Accelerated healing and reduced need for grafting in pediatric patients with burns treated with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide matrix

Arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide matrix is designed to promote dermal healing by providing a molecular scaffold that facilitates cell ingrowth and establishment of normal tissue architecture. This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of RGD peptide matrix in the treatment of partial-thickness scald burns in pediatric patients. Either topical RGD peptide matrix or control treatment with silver sulfadiazine was applied to matched burn sites daily for up to 21 days. With RGD peptide matrix application under synthetic occlusive dressing, the incidence of healing was nearly threefold higher, average time to healing 2.5 days shorter (regression estimation), extent burn closure at all treated sites 37% greater, and number of needed grafting procedures fourfold lower compared with control treatment. All these differences were statistically significant. RGD peptide matrix was well tolerated. RGD peptide matrix promoted and accelerated healing in this study and thus may be able to reduce morbidity and treatment costs of partial-thickness burns in pediatric patients.