Fabrication of a wound dressing mat based on Polyurethane/Polyacrylic acid containing Poloxamer for skin tissue engineering

Enhanced wound healing with a bilayered multifunctional quaternized chitosan-dextran-curcumin construct

This study introduces a novel bilayer wound dressing that integrates a quaternized chitosan-polyacrylic acid (QCs-PAA) sponge as the top layer with electrospun nanofibers containing curcumin as the bottom layer. For the first time, QCs and PAA were combined in an 80:20 ratio through freeze-drying to form a porous sponge layer with ideal structural properties, including 83 ± 6 % porosity and pore diameters of 290 ± 12.5 μm. For the bottom layer, five groups of nanofibers containing PAA, dextran, and curcumin were electrospun onto the porous sponge. All wound dressings were non-toxic and exhibited exceptional antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. All groups, particularly the QP/PD0.25Cur bilayer dressing, showed significant HaCaT cell adhesion. Angiogenesis assays confirmed a remarkable increase in blood vessel number and thickness in samples containing 0.25 w/w% curcumin, with vascular density increasing from 0.32 in the single-layer sponge to 0.54 in the QP/PD0.25Cur sample, representing a 68 % enhancement. In vivo studies demonstrated that within 14 days, wound healing was accelerated with the QP/PD0.25Cur bilayer dressing, achieving 96 % closure compared to other groups. The findings revealed that all fabricated bilayer sponge-nanofiber wound dressings, particularly the 0.25 w/w% curcumin sample, can be a suitable candidate for wound management.

A Layer-by-Layer Polycaprolactone/Chitosan-Based Biomimetic Hybrid Nanofibroporous Scaffold for Enhanced Skin Tissue Regeneration: Integrating Solution Blow Spinning and Freeze Casting Techniques

Nanofibers, with their high surface area-to-volume ratio, elasticity, and mechanical strength, significantly enhance scaffold structures for skin tissue engineering. The present study introduces a unique method of combining solution blow spinning (SBS) and freeze casting to fabricate biomimetic hybrid nanofibroporous scaffolds (BHNS) using polycaprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CH). The developed scaffolds mimic the fibrous porous natural extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture, promoting cell adhesion, proliferation, and matrix deposition. The combined SBS and freeze-casting processes resulted in scaffolds with high porosity and optimal mechanical strength, crucial for effective skin regeneration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the uniform, nonwoven, and beadless architecture of the PCL fibers and the fibroporous nature of the PCL/CH scaffolds. The scaffolds exhibited excellent swelling behavior, controlled degradation rates, and enhanced mechanical properties. In vitro cell studies demonstrated scaffold cell-supportive properties in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, and migration. This innovative layer-by-layer fabrication technique, integrating nanofibers with freeze-cast scaffolds, represents a significant advancement in skin tissue engineering, promising improved outcomes in wound healing and regenerative medicine.

Fabrication and In-Vivo Evaluation of Polyvinyl pyrrolidone/Poloxamer 188 Hybrid Nanofibers of Deflazacort

The superior flexibility, efficient drug loading, high surface-to-volume ratio, ease of formulation, and cost-controlled production are considered exceptional advantages of nanofibers (NFs) as a smart delivery system. Deflazacort (DEF) is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agent. It is categorized as a poorly soluble class II drug. In this study, DEF-loaded polymeric nanofibrous using the electrospinning technique mats, Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) with or without Poloxamer 188 (PX) were used as mat-forming polymers. Microscopical imaging, drug content (%), and in vitro dissolution studies were conducted for all NFs formulae (F1-F7). All NFs improved the DEF dissolution compared to the unprocessed form, with the superiority of the PVP/PX hybrid. The optimized formula (F7) exhibited an average diameter of 655.46 ± 90.4 nm and % drug content of 84.33 ± 5.58. The dissolution parameters of DEF loaded in PVP/PX NFs (F7) reflected a release of 95.3 % ± 3.1 and 102.6 % ± 1.7 after 5 and 60 min, respectively. NFs (F7) was investigated for drug-polymer compatibility using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In vivo anti-inflammatory study employing male Sprague-Dawley rats showed a significant reduction of rat paw edema for F7 (p < 0.05) compared with unprocessed DEF with a normal epidermal and dermal skin structure comparable to the healthy negative control. Immunohistochemical and morphometric data displayed similarities between the immune reaction of F7 and the negative healthy control. The finding of this work emphasized that DEF loaded in PVP/PX NFs could be considered a useful strategy for enhancing the therapeutic performance of DEF.

Anti-adhesive and antibacterial chitosan/PEO nanofiber dressings with high breathability for promoting wound healing

Wound dressings are crucial for wound healing. Ideal wound dressings should possess many functions such as wettability, antibacterial activity and anti-adherent property to promote wound healing. In the present study solution blown spinning (SBS) technology was applied to prepare chitosan/polyethylene oxide (CS/PEO) nanofiber dressings in high efficiency. The obtained nanofiber dressings were treated with anhydrous ethanol to improve the fiber structure and enhance the functionality of the fiber dressings. The results show that the treated nanofibers had higher crystallinities and higher CS contents. The CS/PEO nanofiber dressings fabricated by using no additives and crosslinking had excellent wettability, water stability and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached to over 99.99 %. In addition, the CS/PEO nanofiber dressings exhibited high breathability, antioxidant activity and anti-adhesion function. The in vivo animal experiment confirmed that the nanofiber dressings enhanced cell proliferation and significantly accelerated the wound healing within 10 days. The developed CS/PEO nanofiber dressings have great potential in the clinical field of wound healing.

Solvent-free synthesis of biostable segmented polyurethane shape memory polymers for biomedical applications

Biostable shape memory polymers that remain stable in physiological conditions are beneficial for user-defined shape recovery in response to a specific stimulus. For potential commercialization and biocompatibility considerations, biomaterial synthesis must be simple and scalable. Hence, a library of biostable and cytocompatible shape memory polymers with tunable thermomechanical properties based on hard segment content was synthesized using a solvent-free method. Polymer surface chemistry, thermomechanical and shape memory properties, and biostability were assessed. We also investigated the effects of processing methods on thermomechanical and shape memory properties. All polymers showed high glass transition temperatures (>50 °C), which indicates that their temporary shape could be preserved after implantation. Polymers also demonstrate high shape fixity (73-80%) and shape recovery (93-95%). Minimal mass loss (<5%) was observed in accelerated oxidative (20% H2O2) and hydrolytic (0.1 M NaOH) media. Additionally, minimal shape recovery (∼0%) occurred in programmed samples with higher hard segment content that were stored in degradation media. After 40 days of storage in media, programmed samples recovered their primary shapes upon heating to temperatures above their transition temperature. Annealing to above the polymer melting point and solvent casting of polymers improved shape memory and thermal properties. To enable their potential use as biomaterial scaffolds, fiber formation of synthesized polyurethanes was compared with those of samples synthesized using a previously reported solvent-based method. The new method provided polymers that can form fibrous scaffolds with improved mechanical and shape memory properties, which is attributed to the higher molecular weight and crystalline content of polymers synthesized using the new, solvent-free approach. These biostable segmented polyurethanes could be coupled with a range of components that respond to specific stimuli, such as enzymes, magnetic field, pH, or light, to enable a specific shape change response, which could be coupled with drug and/or bioactive material delivery in future work.

The engineering, drug release, and in vitro evaluations of the PLLA/HPC/Calendula Officinalis electrospun nanofibers optimized by Response Surface Methodology

A system based on poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was considered in this study to achieve electrospun mats with outstanding properties and applicability in biomedical engineering. A novel binary solvent system of chloroform/N,N-dimethylformamide (CF/DMF:70/30) was utilized to minimize the probable phase separation between the polymeric components. Moreover, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to model/optimize the process. Finally, to scrutinize the ability of the complex in terms of drug delivery, Calendula Officinalis (Marigold) extract was added to the solution of the optimal sample (Opt.PH), and then the set was electrospun (PHM). As a result, the presence of Marigold led to higher values of fiber diameter (262 ± 34 nm), pore size (483 ± 102 nm), and surface porosity (81.0 ± 7.3 %). As this drug could also prohibit the micro-scale phase separation, the PHM touched superior tensile strength and Young modulus of 11.3 ± 1.1 and 91.2 ± 4.2 MPa, respectively. Additionally, the cumulative release data demonstrated non-Fickian diffusion with the Korsmeyer-Peppas exponent and diffusion coefficient of n = 0.69 and D = 2.073 × 10-14 cm2/s, respectively. At the end stage, both the Opt.PH and PHM mats manifested satisfactory results regarding the hydrophilicity and cell viability/proliferation assessments, reflecting their high potential to be used in regenerative medicine applications.

Preparation of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan nanofibrous films incorporating graphene oxide and lanthanum chloride by electrospinning method for potential photothermal and chemical synergistic antibacterial applications in wound dressings

Electrospun fibres have been widely used as skin dressings due to their unique structur. However, due to the lack of intrinsic antimicrobial activity, it is easy for the wound to become infected. Bacterial infection, which leads to chronic inflammation, severely hinders the normal process of skin regeneration. In this study, a polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) composite films with chemical sterilization and near-infrared (NIR) photothermal antibacterial activity was fabricated by electrospinning. Graphene oxide (GO), a photosensitiser, was incorporated into the films, and lanthanum chloride (Lacl3) as a chemical antibacterial agent was also doped in the electrospun films. The structure, morphology, mechanical properties, wettability, and antimicrobial and photothermal antibacterial activity of the PVA/CS-based fibre films were investigated. The results showed that the addition of Lacl3 to the PVA/CS/GO nanofibres (PVA/CS/GO-La) improved the hydrophilicity, tensile strength and resistance to elastic deformation of the nanofibres. The PVA/CS/GO-La12.5 mM sample exhibited the best antibacterial performance, showing high inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (82% antibacterial efficacy) and Escherichia coli (99.7% antibacterial efficacy). Furthermore, the antibacterial efficacy of the films surface was further enhanced after exposure to NIR light (808 nm, 0.01 W) for 20 min. In addition, the nanofibre films showed no cytotoxicity against human skin fibroblasts (HSFs), indicating its potential application in the field of broad-spectrum antibacterial materials.

Fabrication and characterization of lipopeptide biosurfactant-based electrospun nanofibers for use in tissue engineering

Nanofibers are a class of nanomaterial with specific physicochemical properties and characteristics making them quite sought after and investigated by researchers. Lipopeptide biosurfactant (LPB) formulation properties were previously established in wound healing. LPB were isolated from in vitro culture of Acinetobacter junii B6 and loaded on nanofibers formulation produced by electrospinning method with different ratios of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Poloxamer. Numerous experimental control tests were carried out on formulations, including physicochemical properties which were evaluated by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), morphology study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal stability. The best nanofibers formulation was obtained by the electrospinning method, with a voltage of 19.8 volts, a discharge capacity of 1cm/h, a cylindrical rotating velocity of 100rpm, and a needle interval of 7cm from the cylinder, which continued for 7hours. The formulation contained 2% (w/v) CMC, 10% (w/v) poloxamer, 9% (w/v) PVA, and 5% (w/v) LPB. This formula had desirable physicochemical properties including spreadability, stability, and uniformity with the particle size of about 590nm.

Carboxymethyl cellulose/poloxamer gels enriched with essential oil and Ag nanoparticles: promising wound dressings

Aim: Essential oils are promising antibacterial and wound-healing agents that should be explored for the design of wound dressings. Materials & methods: Topical gels prepared from a combination of carboxymethyl cellulose and poloxamer were incorporated with tea tree and lavender oil together with Ag nanoparticles. In vitro release, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and wound healing studies were performed. Results: The gels displayed good spreadability with viscosity in the range of 210-1200 cP. The gels displayed promising antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria used in the study. The % cell viability of the gels was more than 90.83%. Conclusion: The topical gels displayed excellent wound closure in vitro revealing that they are potential wound dressings for bacteria-infected wounds.

Anatomically and Biomechanically Relevant Monolithic Total Disc Replacement Made of 3D-Printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Various implant treatments, including total disc replacements, have been tried to treat lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, which is claimed to be the main contributor of lower back pain. The treatments, however, come with peripheral issues. This study proposes a novel approach that complies with the anatomical features of IVD, the so-called monolithic total disc replacement (MTDR). As the name suggests, the MTDR is a one-part device that consists of lattice and rigid structures to mimic the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus, respectively. The MTDR can be made of two types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU 87A and TPU 95A) and fabricated using a 3D printing approach: fused filament fabrication. The MTDR design involves two configurations-the full lattice (FLC) and anatomy-based (ABC) configurations. The MTDR is evaluated in terms of its physical, mechanical, and cytotoxicity properties. The physical characterization includes the geometrical evaluations, wettability measurements, degradability tests, and swelling tests. The mechanical characterization comprises compressive tests of the materials, an analytical approach using the Voigt model of composite, and a finite element analysis. The cytotoxicity assays include the direct assay using hemocytometry and the indirect assay using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTS) assay. The geometrical evaluation shows that the fabrication results are tolerable, and the two materials have good wettability and low degradation rates. The mechanical characterization shows that the ABC-MTDR has more similar mechanical properties to an IVD than the FLC-MTDR. The cytotoxicity assays prove that the materials are non-cytotoxic, allowing cells to grow on the surfaces of the materials.

Optimization of Oligomer Chitosan/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Coating for Enhancing Antibacterial, Hemostatic Effects and Biocompatibility of Nanofibrous Wound Dressing

A synergistic multilayer membrane design is necessary to satisfy a multitude of requirements of an ideal wound dressing. In this study, trilayer dressings with asymmetric wettability, composed of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) base membranes coated with oligomer chitosan (COS) in various concentrations of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), are fabricated for wound dressing application. The membranes are expected to synergize the hygroscopic, antibacterial, hemostatic, and biocompatible properties of PCL and COS. The wound dressing was coated by spraying the solution of 3% COS and 6% PVP on the PCL base membrane (PVP6–3) three times, which shows good interaction with biological subjects, including bacterial strains and blood components. PVP6–3 samples confirm the diameter of inhibition zones of 20.0 ± 2.5 and 17.9 ± 2.5 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The membrane induces hemostasis with a blood clotting index of 74% after 5 min of contact. In the mice model, wounds treated with PVP6–3 closed 95% of the area after 10 days. Histological study determines the progression of skin regeneration with the construction of granulation tissue, new vascular systems, and hair follicles. Furthermore, the newly-growth skin shares structural resemblances to that of native tissue. This study suggests a simple approach to a multi-purpose wound dressing for clinical treatment.

Honey-Loaded Reinforced Film Based on Bacterial Nanocellulose/Gelatin/Guar Gum as an Effective Antibacterial Wound Dressing

Recently, the use of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) produced by Acetobacter, which has suitable properties for tissue engineering application as a perfect wound dressing, has attracted considerable attention. For this purpose, we successfully developed honey loaded BNC-reinforced gelatin/dialdehyde-modified guar gum films (H/BNC/Ge/D-GG). Prepared films were studied for their morphological, thermal stability, mechanical, water solubility and degradability properties. The physicochemical properties of the developed films with or without honey loading were studied. The results indicated that by enhancing the honey content of the film, the degradation behavior, adhesion and proliferation of NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells were improved. The films with 15 wt% of honey revealed inhibition activity against S. aureus (13.0±0.1 mm) and E. coli (15.0±1.0 mm) bacteria. Cell culture results demonstrated that the prepared films had good cytocompatibility. Based on the results, the prepared H/BNC/Ge/D-GG films appear to have high potential for antibacterial wound dressings.

Polyacrylic Acid Nanoplatforms: Antimicrobial, Tissue Engineering, and Cancer Theranostic Applications

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) is a non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer that gained lots of interest in recent years. PAA nano-derivatives can be obtained by chemical modification of carboxyl groups with superior chemical properties in comparison to unmodified PAA. For example, nano-particles produced from PAA derivatives can be used to deliver drugs due to their stability and biocompatibility. PAA and its nanoconjugates could also be regarded as stimuli-responsive platforms that make them ideal for drug delivery and antimicrobial applications. These properties make PAA a good candidate for conventional and novel drug carrier systems. Here, we started with synthesis approaches, structure characteristics, and other architectures of PAA nanoplatforms. Then, different conjugations of PAA/nanostructures and their potential in various fields of nanomedicine such as antimicrobial, anticancer, imaging, biosensor, and tissue engineering were discussed. Finally, biocompatibility and challenges of PAA nanoplatforms were highlighted. This review will provide fundamental knowledge and current information connected to the PAA nanoplatforms and their applications in biological fields for a broad audience of researchers, engineers, and newcomers. In this light, PAA nanoplatforms could have great potential for the research and development of new nano vaccines and nano drugs in the future.