The potential role of silver nanoparticles in the tongue wound healing.

OBJECTIVES: The tongue is a complex muscular organ that can be affected by chronic ulcers and malignant tumors, which need proper management to improve healing and tissue regeneration. Hence, we aimed to assess the efficiency of adipose tissue stem cells (ADSCs) treated with/without silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on tongue wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six male white albino rats were divided into four groups; group I: tongue defects were prepared on the tongue dorsal surfaces using a tissue punch rotary drill for standardization, and were left untreated, group II: tongue defects were treated subepithelial using 2.5 µg/ml AgNPs solution using insulin syringe on the same day of defect preparation, group III: tongue defects were injected with 200 µl of ADSCs suspension (3.5 × 105 cells) and group IV: tongue defects were injected with 200 µl of ADSCs previously treated with 2.5 µg/ml AgNPs solution. Four- and seven-day follow-up following treatment, tongue specimens were collected, and histological assessment was conducted by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and immunohistochemical assessment of anti-TNF-alpha and anti-TGF-β, followed by histomorphometric assessment. Two-way ANOVA was utilized to compare between the groups after 4 and 7 days. RESULTS: The treated groups revealed a significant improvement characterized histologically by regenerated tissue with well-developed, thick-walled, and well-organized vessels and a significant decrease in defect depth in comparison with the control group. Group IV displayed a significant reduction in TNF-alpha and a significant increase in TGF-β antibodies, denoting its anti-inflammatory and neovascularization actions correspondingly. CONCLUSION: ADSCs treated with AgNPs could significantly enhance regeneration and filling of tongue defects by decreasing tissue inflammation and improving neovascularization, being better than using ADSCs or AgNPs alone. Therefore, it may be a possible treatment plan for enhancing the healing of tongue ulcers.