Wound dressings with elastase-sequestering

Abstract

The invention provides wound dressings and methods of their use, especially for the treatment of chronic, non-healing wounds. The wound dressings are composed of a support matrix, such as cotton cellulose, and an active agent associated with the support matrix. The active agent may be a protease inhibitor or a protease sequestrant, in particular an inhibitor or sequestrant of a neutrophil-derived cationic protease such as elastase.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for sequestering elastase at a wound site comprising the step of contacting said wound site with a wound dressing selected from the group consisting of carboxymethylcellulose, dialdehyde gauze, sulfonated gauze, and phosphorylated gauze.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wound dressing is carboxymethylcellulose.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wound dressing is dialdehyde gauze.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wound dressing is sulfonated gauze.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said wound dressing is phosphorylated gauze.  
     
     
         6 . A wound dressing for treating a wound, comprising 
 a support matrix, and    an active agent associated with said support matrix, wherein said active agent is selected from the group consisting of an inhibitor of a neutrophil-derived protease and a protease sequestrant.    
     
     
         7 . The wound dressing of  claim 6  wherein said support matrix is selected from the group consisting of cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose.  
     
     
         8 . The wound dressing of  claim 6  wherein said neutrophil-derived protease is elastase.  
     
     
         9 . The wound dressing of  claim 6  wherein said inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Val—Pro—Val, Val—Pro—Val-O Methylester, Ala—Ala—Pro—Val-chloromehylketone, Ala—Ala—Pro—Val-pentafluoroethylketone, propyl-3-ketone, glucose-6-citrate, and levulinate.  
     
     
         10 . The wound dressing of  claim 6  wherein said protease sequestrant is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, sulfate and phosphate.  
     
     
         11 . The wound dressing of  claim 6  wherein said active agent is associated with said support matrix by a means selected from the group consisting of covalent bonding, non-covalent bonding and ionic bonding.  
     
     
         12 . A method for enhancing would healing, comprising, 
 contacting said wound with the wound dressing of  claim 6 .    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said wound is chronic.