Poly (caprolactone)/sodium-alginate-functionalized halloysite clay nanotube nanocomposites: Potent biocompatible materials for wound healing applications

The ASB@HNTs-PVA nanofiber membrane, possessing both anti-inflammatory and hemostatic activities, promotes the healing of T2D skin wounds

The healing of diabetic wounds has long been a significant challenge in the field of medicine. The elevated sugar levels surrounding diabetic wounds create a conducive environment for harmful bacterial growth, resulting in purulent infections that impede the healing process. Thus, the development of a biomaterial that can enhance the healing of diabetic wounds holds great importance. This study developed electrospun dressings for wound healing by combining traditional Chinese medicine and clay. The study utilized electrospinning technology to prepare polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber membranes containing ASB and HNTs. These ASB@HNTs-PVA nanofiber membranes demonstrated rapid hemostasis, along with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, facilitating the recovery of type 2 diabetic (T2D) wounds. Various analyses were conducted to assess the performance of the composite nanofiber membrane, including investigations into its biocompatibility and hemostatic abilities through antibacterial experiments, cell experiments, and mouse liver tail bleeding experiments. Western blot analysis confirmed that the composite nanofiber membrane could decrease the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α. A type 2 diabetic mouse model was utilized, with wounds artificially induced on the backs of mice. Application of the nanofiber membrane to the wounds further confirmed its anti-inflammatory effects and ability to enhance wound healing in vivo.

Sustainable organosolv-lignin coated nanosilver-halloysites reinforced poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites for wound healing application

This study involves the fabrication of innovative poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films by incorporating silver-embedded clay nanotubes with organosolv-lignin by the solution casting approach. The confirmation of this procedure was achieved through the utilisation of many techniques, including FTIR, PXRD, FE-SEM, and TGA. The aforementioned research have verified the adherence of silver nanoparticles to the surface of raw halloysites. The confirmation of lignin functionalization on these nanotubes has been established. This novel nanofiller was used to make a range of nanocomposite films with varying weight percentages ranging from 0 wt% to 5 wt%. With the increase in the wt% of nanofillers, These nanocomposite films exhibited greater thermal and mechanical stability compared to plain PVA. An investigation was conducted to examine the impact of the films on the cellular behaviour of murine fibroblast (NIH3T3) cell lines. Based on the findings from cell proliferation and scratch testing, it has been determined that these nanocomposite films are not harmful to cells, exhibit a greater rate of cell multiplication (116 ± 1.19), and demonstrate increased migratory capabilities (86.5 ± 0.50). Further investigations of human blood corroborate the evidence that these films are compatible with blood. Nanocomposite films have the potential to serve as wound healers following pre-clinical and clinical testing.

Progress and future prospects of hemostatic materials based on nanostructured clay minerals

The occurrence of uncontrolled hemorrhage is a significant threat to human life and health. Although hemostatic materials have made remarkable advances in the biomaterials field, it remains a challenge to develop safe and effective hemostatic materials for global medical use. Natural clay minerals (CMs) have long been used as traditional inorganic hemostatic agents due to their good hemostatic capability, biocompatibility and easy availability. With the advancement of science, technology and ideology, CM-based hemostatic materials have undergone continuous innovations by integrating new inspirations with conventional concepts. This review systematically summarizes the hemostatic mechanisms of different natural CMs based on their nanostructures. Moreover, it also comprehensively reviews the latest research progress for CM-based hemostatic hybrid and nanocomposite materials, and discusses the challenges and developments in this field.

Double Network Physical Crosslinked Hydrogel for Healing Skin Wounds: New Formulation Based on Polysaccharides and Zn2

Developing convenient, efficient, and natural wound dressings remain the foremost strategy for treating skin wounds. Thus, we innovatively combined the semi-dissolved acidified sol-gel conversion method with the internal gelation method to fabricate SA (sodium alginate)/CS (chitosan)/Zn2+ physically cross-linked double network hydrogel and named it SA/CS/Zn2+ PDH. The characterization results demonstrated that increased Zn2+ content led to hydrogels with improved physical and chemical properties, such as rheology, water retention, and swelling capacity. Moreover, the hydrogels exhibited favorable antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. Notably, the establishment of an in vitro pro-healing wound model further confirmed that the hydrogel had a superior ability to repair wounds and promote skin regeneration. In future, as a natural biomaterial with antimicrobial properties, it has the potential to promote wound healing.

Preparation and evaluation of a novel alginate-arginine-zinc ion hydrogel film for skin wound healing

In this paper, the mixed solution of sodium alginate (SA) and arginine (Arg) was dried into a film and then crosslinked with zinc ion to form sodium alginate-arginine-zinc ion (SA-Arg-Zn²⁺) hydrogel for skin wound dressings. SA-Arg-Zn²⁺ hydrogel had higher swelling ability, which was beneficial to absorbing wound exudate. Moreover, it exhibited antioxidant activity and strong inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus, and had no obvious cytotoxicity to NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Compared with other dressings utilized in rat skin wound, SA-Arg-Zn²⁺ hydrogel showed better wound healing efficacy and the wound closure ratio reached to 100 % on the 14th day. The result of Elisa test indicated that SA-Arg-Zn²⁺ hydrogel down-regulated the expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) and promoted the growth factor levels (VEGF and TGF-β₁). Furthermore, H&E staining results confirmed that SA-Arg-Zn²⁺ hydrogel could reduce wound inflammation and accelerate re-epithelialization, angiogenesis and wound healing. Therefore, SA-Arg-Zn²⁺ hydrogel is an effective and innovative wound dressing, moreover, the preparation technique is simple and feasible for industrial application.

Developing hyaluronic acid-proline-ferric ion cross-linked film for efficient wound healing application

A novel cross-linked film dressing that can accelerate wound healing and guard against bacterial infection was presented in this work. The hyaluronic acid-proline-ferric ion (HA-Pro-Fe³⁺) film was successfully prepared by physically cross-linking method, which the carboxyl groups of the HA and Pro molecules should be in coordination with Fe³⁺. The HA-Pro-Fe³⁺ cross-linked film showed three-dimensional porous structure, appropriate water vapor permeability and swelling property, favorable cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility, antibacterial and antioxidative capability. The results of rat skin wound healing confirmed that HA-Pro-Fe³⁺ film could accelerate epithelial regeneration and collagen deposition, promote angiogenesis and significantly improve skin wound healing. Elisa analysis indicated that HA-Pro-Fe³⁺ material could down-regulate the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, and up-regulate the level of TGF-β₁ and VEGF. Given its biocompatibility, antibacterial ability, promotion of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, the wide application of HA-Pro-Fe³⁺ cross-linked film in wound repair would be anticipated.

Incorporation of sodium alginate functionalized halloysite nanofillers into poly (vinyl alcohol) to study mechanical, cyto/heme compatibility and wound healing application

In this study, the Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are surface-functionalized with sodium alginate (Sod.alg) and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were employed to generate nanocomposite films (Sod.alg-rHNT/PVA). These nanocomposite films were made via the solution casting technique. FE-SEM data verified sod.alg-rHNT dispersion into the PVA matrix. The modifications were confirmed from FTIR, TGA and PXRD techniques. In the mechanical studies of synthesized nanocomposite films, the films showed a considerable increase in the tensile strength and Young's modulus values. The nanocomposite film's ability to induce cell proliferation and migration was investigated using murine fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells. The films increased cellular proliferation (128 ± 1.07 %) compared to the neat PVA. Cell adhesion tests showed cytocompliant films. In the scratch assay, the 5 wt% film elicited wound closure at a faster rate (91.53 ± 1.04 %). Films were compatible with human blood cells. Therefore the prepared nanocomposite films can be used as promising wound healers after pre-clinical and clinical testing.

Alginate/polyvinyl alcohol films for wound healing: Advantages and challenges

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and its physical integrity must be maintained for body homeostasis and to prevent the entry of pathogenic microorganisms. Sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are two polymers widely used in films for wound dressing applications. Furthermore, blends between SA and PVA improve physical, mechanical and biological properties of the final wound healing material when compared to the individual polymers. Different drugs have been incorporated into SA/PVA-based films to improve wound healing activity. It is noteworthy that SA/PVA films can be crosslinked with Ca²⁺ or other agents, which improves physicochemical and biological properties. Thus, SA/PVA associations are promising for the biomedical field, as a potential alternative for wound treatment. This review focuses on the main techniques for obtaining SA/PVA films, their physical-chemical characterization, drug incorporation, and the advantages and challenges of these films for wound healing.

Application of nanotechnology in management and treatment of diabetic wounds

Diabetic wounds are one of the most common health problems worldwide, enhancing the demand for new management strategies. Nanotechnology, as a developing subject in diabetic wound healing, is proving to be a promising and effective tool in treatment and care. It is, therefore, necessary to ascertain the available and distinct nanosystems and evaluate their performance when topically applied to the injury site, especially in diabetic wound healing. Several active ingredients, including bioactive ingredients, growth factors, mesenchymal stem cells, nucleic acids, and drugs, benefit from improved properties when loaded into nanosystems. Given the risk of problems associated with systemic administration, the topical application should be considered, provided stability and efficacy are assured. After nanoencapsulation, active ingredients-loaded nanosystems have been showing remarkable features of biocompatibility, healing process hastening, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix compounds synthesis stimulation, contributing to a decrease in wound inflammation. Despite limitations, nanotechnology has attracted widespread attention in the scientific community and seems to be a valuable technological ally in the treatment and dressing of diabetic wounds. The use of nanotechnology in topical applications enables efficient delivery of the active ingredients to the specific skin site, increasing their bioavailability, stability, and half-life time, without compromising their safety.

Zein-polycaprolactone core-shell nanofibers for wound healing

In a previous study, we developed electrospun antimicrobial microfiber scaffolds for wound healing composed of a core of zein protein and a shell containing polyethylene oxide. While providing a promising platform for composite nanofiber design, the scaffolds showed low tensile strengths, insufficient water stability, as well as burst release of the antimicrobial drug tetracycline hydrochloride, properties which are not ideal for the use of the scaffolds as wound dressings. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop fibers with enhanced mechanical strength and water stability, also displaying sustained release of tetracycline hydrochloride. Zein was chosen as core material, while the shell was formed by the hydrophobic polymer polycaprolactone, either alone or in combination with polyethylene oxide. As compared to control fibers of pristine polycaprolactone, the zein-polycaprolactone fibers exhibited a reduced diameter and hydrophobicity, which is beneficial for cell attachment and wound closure. Such fibers also demonstrated sustained release of tetracycline hydrochloride, as well as water stability, ductility, high mechanical strength and fibroblast attachment, hence representing a step towards the development of biodegradable wound dressings with prolonged drug release, which can be left on the wound for a longer time.