Compositions and methods of use for wound healing

A method of treating a dermal wound in a subject, the method comprising topically administering to the wound an aqueous pharmaceutical gel comprising

• hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight per volume of the pharmaceutical gel;
• a compound of formula (I)
• wherein:
• n is an integer between 20 and 6000;
• and
• each R1 is independently selected for each occurrence from hydrogen, acetyl,
• wherein at least 25% of R1 substituents are H, at least 1% of R1 substituents are acetyl, and at least 2% of R1 substituents are
• a preservative;
• and
• sterile water, wherein the compound of formula (I) is present in an amount of 0.5% by weight in the pharmaceutical gel;
• wherein 21 days after administration of the aqueous pharmaceutical gel, the dermal wound has a thicker epidermis compared to an untreated wound, thereby treating the wound in the subject.