1: Med Hypotheses. 2008;70(3):610-3. Epub 2007 Aug 6.

Could chronic wounds not heal due to too low local copper levels?

Borkow G, Gabbay J, Zatcoff RC.

Cupron Inc., PO Box 10973, Greensboro, NC 27404, USA. gadi@cupron.com

Copper is an essential trace element involved in numerous human physiological and
metabolic processes. It plays a key role in many of the processes that together
comprise wound healing, including induction of endothelial growth factor,
angiogenesis and expression and stabilization of extracellular skin proteins. We 
hypothesize that in individuals with diabetic ulcers, decubitus, peripheral
vascular, or other wounds which might have compromised circulation to the wound
site, that part of the incapacity of the wounds to heal is due to low local
copper levels. Contamination of wounds is also an important factor causing
impaired wound healing. Importantly, copper has potent broad biocidal properties.
In contrast, the risk of adverse skin reactions due to exposure to copper is
extremely low. We thus hypothesize that introducing copper into wound dressings
would not only reduce the risk of wound and dressing contamination, as silver
does but, more importantly, would stimulate faster wound repair directly. This
would be done by the release of copper from the wound dressings directly into the
wound site inducing angiogenesis and skin regeneration.


PMID: 17689198 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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