Chlorhexidine-loaded polysulfobetaine/keratin hydrogels with antioxidant and antibacterial activity for infected wound healing

Trends in protein derived materials for wound care applications

Natural resource based polymers, especially those derived from proteins, have attracted significant attention for their potential utilization in advanced wound care applications. Protein based wound care materials provide superior biocompatibility, biodegradability, and other functionalities compared to conventional dressings. The effectiveness of various fabrication techniques, such as electrospinning, phase separation, self-assembly, and ball milling, is examined in the context of developing protein-based materials for wound healing. These methods produce a wide range of forms, including hydrogels, scaffolds, sponges, films, and bioinspired nanomaterials, each designed for specific types of wounds and different stages of healing. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of recent research that investigates the transformation of proteins into materials for wound healing applications. Our focus is on essential proteins, such as keratin, collagen, gelatin, silk, zein, and albumin, and we emphasize their distinct traits and roles in wound care management. Protein-based wound care materials show promising potential in biomedical engineering, offering improved healing capabilities and reduced risks of infection. It is crucial to explore the potential use of these materials in clinical settings while also addressing the challenges that may arise from their commercialization in the future.

Multifunctional type lll recombinant human collagen incorporated sodium alginate hydrogel with sustained release of extra cellular vehicles for wound healing multimodal therapy in diabetic mice

The effective promotion of wound healing poses a substantial challenge for clinical treatment. Despite evidence supporting the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this process, their therapeutic potential is currently restrict by challenges in targeting and maintaining them. The manufacturing process for rhCol III, or recombinant human collagen III, is stable, and the rejection rate is low. We used a cross-linking method to prepare a rhCol III incorporated sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel, which enabled to accomplish an EV sustained release that was site-specific. Cell viability through MTT assay, proliferation and ROS generation were performed with MC3T3-E1cell lines. In addition, diabetic wounds are characterised by an environment of hyper-inflammation and elevated oxidative stress. The rhCol III/SA-EVs hydrogel, which is a delivery vehicle with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics, promotes wound healing in this setting. The In vivo effectiveness of the created wound dressing on a diabetic wound model was examined in this study. After 21 days of treatment, the wound dressing significantly (p < 0.05) expedited wound healing compared to the control group, and wound closure was approximately 95% without any negative systemic reactions.

Keratinous and corneous-based products towards circular bioeconomy: A research review

Keratins and corneous proteins are key components of biomaterials used in a wide range of applications and are potential substitutes for petrochemical-based products. Horns, hooves, feathers, claws, and similar animal tissues are abundant sources of α-keratin and corneous β-proteins, which are by-products of the food industry. Their close association with the meat industry raises environmental and ethical concerns regarding their disposal. To promote an eco-friendly and circular use of these materials in novel applications, efforts have focused on recovering these residues to develop sustainable, non-animal-related, affordable, and scalable procedures. Here, we review and examine biotechnological methods for extracting and expressing α-keratins and corneous β-proteins in microorganisms. This review highlights consolidated research trends in biomaterials, medical devices, food supplements, and packaging, demonstrating the keratin industry's potential to create innovative value-added products. Additionally, it analyzes the state of the art of related intellectual property and market size to underscore the potential within a circular bioeconomic model.

Antibacterial and antioxidative hydrogel dressings based on tannic acid-gelatin/oxidized sodium alginate loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles for promoting wound healing

Wound infection resulting in delayed wound healing and wound deterioration remains a clinical challenge. Recently, multifunctional hydrogel dressing was a promising strategy which has attracted wide attention in preventing wound infection and promoting wound healing. In this study, a hybrid hydrogel made of gelatin (GL), tannic acid (TA), oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was prepared mainly by double network cross-linking approach, named tannic acid-gelatin/oxidized sodium alginate/zinc oxide (TA-GL/OSA/ZnO). The composite hydrogels exhibited improved mechanical properties, which provided by TA modified the structure of GL network, Schiff base reaction between GL and OSA, and the strengthening effect of ZnO NPs. Meanwhile, the composite hydrogel showed high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (97.8 % ± 0.9 %) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (96.6 % ± 1.2 %), attributed to the synergistic effect of TA and ZnO NPs. Furthermore, benefiting from the good antioxidative properties of TA, the sustain-released Zn2+ with the good capability to kill bacteria, and promoting the regeneration of skin epithelial tissues in BALB/c mice constantly, the multifunctional hydrogel had a significant therapeutic effect on wound healing and broad application prospects.

Unveiling the Potential of Protein-Based Sustainable Antibacterial Materials

The surge in bacterial growth and the escalating resistance against a multitude of antibiotic drugs have burgeoned into an alarming global threat, necessitating urgent and innovative interventions. In response to this peril, scientists have embarked on the development of advanced biocompatible antibacterial materials, aiming to counteract not only bacterial infections but also the pervasive issue of food spoilage resulting from microbial proliferation. Protein-based biopolymers and their meticulously engineered composites are at the forefront of this endeavor. Their potential in combating this severe global concern presents an approach that intersects the domains of biomedicine and environmental science. The present review article delves into the intricate extraction processes employed to derive various proteins from their natural sources, unraveling the complex biochemical pathways that underpin their antibacterial properties. Expanding on the foundational knowledge, the review also provides a comprehensive synthesis of functionalized proteins modified to enhance their antibacterial efficacy, unveiling a realm of possibilities for tailoring solutions to specific biomedical and environmental applications. The present review navigates through their antibacterial applications; from wound dressings to packaging materials with inherent antibacterial properties, the potential applications underscore the versatility and adaptability of these materials. Moreover, this comprehensive review serves as a valuable roadmap, guiding future research endeavors in reshaping the landscape of natural antibacterial materials on a global scale.

Current progress of protein-based dressing for wound healing applications - A review

Protein-based wound dressings have garnered increasing interest in recent years owing to their distinct physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. The intricate molecular composition of proteins gives rise to unique characteristics, such as exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, and responsiveness, which contribute to the promotion of wound healing. Wound healing is an intricate and ongoing process influenced by multiple causes, and it consists of four distinct phases. Various treatments have been developed to repair different types of skin wounds, thanks to advancements in medical technology and the recognition of the diverse nature of wounds. This review has literature reviewed within the last 3-5 years-the recent progress and development of protein in wound dressings and the fundamental properties of an ideal wound dressing. Herein, the recent strides in protein-based state-of-the-art wound dressing emphasize the significant challenges and summarize future perspectives for wound healing applications.

Emerging trends in the application of hydrogel-based biomaterials for enhanced wound healing: A literature review

Currently, there is a rising global incidence of diverse acute and chronic wounds, underscoring the immediate necessity for research and treatment advancements in wound repair. Hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for wound healing due to their unique physical and chemical properties. This review explores the classification and characteristics of hydrogel dressings, innovative preparation strategies, and advancements in delivering and releasing bioactive substances. Furthermore, it delves into the functional applications of hydrogels in wound healing, encompassing areas such as infection prevention, rapid hemostasis and adhesion adaptation, inflammation control and immune regulation, granulation tissue formation, re-epithelialization, and scar prevention and treatment. The mechanisms of action of various functional hydrogels are also discussed. Finally, this article also addresses the current limitations of hydrogels and provides insights into their potential future applications and upcoming innovative designs.

Stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels for biomedical applications

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels can respond to external stimuli with a change in the network structure and thus have potential application in drug release, intelligent sensing, and scaffold construction. Peptides possess robust supramolecular self-assembly ability, enabling spontaneous formation of nanostructures through supramolecular interactions and subsequently hydrogels. Therefore, peptide-based stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been widely explored as smart soft materials for biomedical applications in the last decade. Herein, we present a review article on design strategies and research progress of peptide hydrogels as stimuli-responsive materials in the field of biomedicine. The latest design and development of peptide hydrogels with responsive behaviors to stimuli are first presented. The following part provides a systematic overview of the functions and applications of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, antimicrobial treatment, 3D cell culture, biosensors, etc. Finally, the remaining challenges and future prospects of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels are proposed. It is believed that this review will contribute to the rational design and development of stimuli-responsive peptide hydrogels toward biomedical applications.

Phosvitin-based hydrogels prepared in AmimCl under magnetic field treatment: Structural characteristics, biological functions, and application in skin wound healing

Due to the serious bacterial infection of skin and the waste of petroleum-based materials, there is an urgent need to develop natural biodegradable wound dressings with high antibacterial activity. Phosvitin (PSV) has shown its natural antioxidant and antibacterial properties, making it an excellent material for preparing wound healing dressings. In this study, we investigated the effect of magnetic field on the preparation of PSV-Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) composite hydrogels in 1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl) system. The results showed that the prepared hydrogels exhibited homogeneous surface structure, suitable swelling capacity and elasticity modulus, and sufficient thermal stability. The excellent antibacterial and antioxidant activities of hydrogels were mainly resulting from AmimCl and PSV, respectively, and the properties were enhanced after magnetic field treatment. The proteomics analysis indicated that AmimCl can readily penetrate the biological membranes of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), upsetting the metabolism and reducing the virulence. The hydrogels showed great blood compatibility. Compared with the commercial materials, the 5 mT-treated hydrogels presented a comparable wound healing rate in the full-thickness skin injury model. On day 7, the wound healing rate of the 5 mT group reached approximately 84.40 %, which was significantly higher than that of the control group, 72.88 % (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our work provides experience for the development of biodegradable materials combined in ionic liquids and magnetic field, and explores their applications in wound healing dressings.

Protein-modified nanomaterials: emerging trends in skin wound healing

Prolonged inflammation can impede wound healing, which is regulated by several proteins and cytokines, including IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, and TGF-β. Concentration-dependent effects of these molecules at the target site have been investigated by researchers to develop them as wound-healing agents by regulating signaling strength. Nanotechnology has provided a promising approach to achieve tissue-targeted delivery and increased effective concentration by developing protein-functionalized nanoparticles with growth factors (EGF, IGF, FGF, PDGF, TGF-β, TNF-α, and VEGF), antidiabetic wound-healing agents (insulin), and extracellular proteins (keratin, heparin, and silk fibroin). These molecules play critical roles in promoting cell proliferation, migration, ECM production, angiogenesis, and inflammation regulation. Therefore, protein-functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as a potential strategy for improving wound healing in delayed or impaired healing cases. This review summarizes the preparation and applications of these nanoparticles for normal or diabetic wound healing and highlights their potential to enhance wound healing.