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Crețu BEB, Dodi G, Gardikiotis I, Balan V, Nacu I, Stoica I, Stoleru E, Rusu AG, Ghilan A, Nita LE, Chiriac AP. Bioactive Composite Cryogels Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and a Polymacrolactone as Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2730. [PMID: 38140071 PMCID: PMC10747042 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In light of the increasing resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to the action of antibiotics, essential oils extracted from plants with therapeutic activity provide a significant alternative to obtaining dressings for the treatment of skin wounds. The encapsulation of essential oils in an amphiphilic gel network allows better dispersion and preservation of hydrophobic bioactive substances while promoting their prolonged release. In this study, we focused on the development of a poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly (ethylene brassylate-co-squaric acid) (PEBSA) platform embedded with thymol (Thy), and α-tocopherol (α-Tcp) as a co-drug structure with prospective use for the treatment and healing of skin wounds. The new complex bioactive system was prepared through repeated freeze-thaw processes. The influence of the composition on surface topography, hydrophilic/hydrophobic character, and in vitro interaction with simulated body fluids was evidenced. BALB/3T3 fibroblast cell culture demonstrated the cryogel scaffolds' cytocompatibility. Tests on Wistar rats confirmed their biocompatibility, integration with host tissue, and the absence of inflammatory processes. The bioactive compound significantly enhanced the healing process of full-thickness excision wounds in a rat model. Further investigations on in vivo infection models would assess the potential of the PVA/PEBSA platform with dual bioactive activity for clinical antimicrobial and wound healing therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca-Elena-Beatrice Crețu
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
| | - Gianina Dodi
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 9-13 Kogalniceanu Street, 700454 Iasi, Romania; (G.D.); (V.B.)
| | - Ioannis Gardikiotis
- Advanced Research and Development Center for Experimental Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 9-13 Kogalniceanu Street, 700454 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Vera Balan
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 9-13 Kogalniceanu Street, 700454 Iasi, Romania; (G.D.); (V.B.)
| | - Isabella Nacu
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medical Bioengineering, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 9-13 Kogalniceanu Street, 700454 Iasi, Romania; (G.D.); (V.B.)
| | - Iuliana Stoica
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Polymers, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (I.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Elena Stoleru
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Polymers, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (I.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Alina Gabriela Rusu
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
| | - Alina Ghilan
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
| | - Loredana Elena Nita
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
| | - Aurica P. Chiriac
- Department of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania; (B.-E.-B.C.); (I.N.); (A.G.R.); (A.G.); (A.P.C.)
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Huang SM, Liu SM, Tseng HY, Chen WC. Effect of Citric Acid on Swelling Resistance and Physicochemical Properties of Post-Crosslinked Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibrous Membrane. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15071738. [PMID: 37050352 PMCID: PMC10096727 DOI: 10.3390/polym15071738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber membranes were crosslinked with citric acid (CA) at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 wt.% (designated as CA10, CA20, and CA30). The effects of CA on the chemical structure, mechanical strength, swelling resistance, and cytotoxicity of the crosslinked PVA fibrous membranes were investigated. Infrared spectroscopy indicated the enhanced esterification of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups between CA and PVA. The modulus and strength of the electrospun PVA membrane increased due to the crosslinking between CA and PVA. The crosslinking of the PVA fiber matrix with CA increased the PVA binding point, thereby increasing the swelling resistance and modulus; however, the concentration of CA used was limited. Results showed that the water absorption of the PVA membranes decreased from 6.58 ± 0.04 g/g for CA10 to 3.56 ± 3.33 g/g for CA20 and 2.85 ± 0.40 g/g for CA30 with increasing CA. The water absorption remained unchanged after the membrane was soaked for a period of time, so no significant difference was found in the water absorption capacity of the same group after immersion from 1 h to 3 d. The tensile strength increased from 20.52 MPa of CA10 to 22.09 MPa of CA20. With an increased amount of CA used for crosslinking, the tensile strength and modulus of CA30 decreased to 11.48 and 13.94 MPa, respectively. Our study also showed that CA was not toxic to L929 cell viability when used for fiber crosslinking at less than 20 wt.% PVA, meaning it may be a good candidate as a support layer for guided tissue engineering.
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