Alginate-Based Materials Loaded with Nanoparticles in Wound Healing

Optimization of an Affordable and Efficient Skin Allograft Composite with Excellent Biomechanical and Biological Properties Suitable for the Regeneration of Deep Skin Wounds: A Preclinical Study

Deep skin wounds require grafting with a skin substitute for treatment. Despite many attempts in the development of an affordable and efficient skin substitute, the repair of deep skin wounds still remains challenging. In the current study, we present a 3D sponge composite made from human placenta (a disposable organ) and sodium alginate with exceptional properties for skin tissue engineering applications. Toward this goal, different proportions of alginate (Alg) and decellularized placenta scaffold (DPS) were composited and freeze-dried to generate a 3D sponge with the desired biomechanical and biological features. Comprehensive in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo characterizations were performed to assess the morphology, physical structure, mechanical behaviors, angiogenic potential, and wound healing properties of the composites. Through these analyses, the scaffold with optimal proportions of Alg (50%) and DPS (50%) was found to have superior properties. The optimized scaffold (Alg50/DPS50) was applied to the full-thickness wounds created in rats. Our data revealed that the addition of DPS to the Alg solution caused a significant improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the scaffold. Remarkably, the fabricated composite scaffold exhibited mechanical properties similar to those of native skin tissue. When implanted into the full-thickness wounds, the Alg50/DPS50 composite scaffold promoted angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and granulation tissue formation, as compared to the group without a scaffold. Overall, our findings underscore the potential value of this hybrid scaffold for enhancing skin wound healing and suggest an Alg50/DPS50 composite for clinical investigations.

Brown algae biomass for fucoxanthin, fucoidan and alginate; update review on structure, biosynthesis, biological activities and extraction valorisation

Natural compounds promoting human health are the main focus of research nowadays. Fucoxanthin, fucoidan and alginate are such bioactive compounds that are extracted from marine brown algae. Extracting these 3 compounds through successive extraction enhances the commercial value of the brown algae biomass. There are studies on successive extraction of fucoidan and alginate but not with fucoxanthin which displays various biological bioactivities. Alginate, a polysaccharide presents 45 % in the cell wall of brown algae. Fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide proved showing various bioactivities. These bioproducts yield are vary depending on the species. Dictyota species recorded high fucoxanthin content of 7 %. Ascophyllum nodosum was found with high fucoidan of 16.08 % by direct extraction. Maximum alginate of 45.79 % was recorded from the brown alga Sargassum cymosum and by successive extraction 44 % was recorded from Ecklonia radiata. Fucoxanthin exits in two isomers as trans and cis forms. Based on linkage, fucoidan structure is found in 3 forms as 1,3- or 1,4- or alternating 1,3- and 1,4-linked fucose in the polysaccharide residues. Fucoidan composition varys depending on the degree of sulphation, composition of monosaccharides and location of collection. In alginate, its property relies on the mannuronic acid and guluronic acid composition. Biosynthesis of these 3 compounds is not much explored. Keeping this view which signify sequential extraction towards biomass valorisation, fucoxanthin, fucoidan and alginate extracted from the brown algae species focusing yield, extraction, characterisation, biosynthesis and biological activities were compiled and critically analysed and discussed in this review.

Enhanced healing of burn wounds by multifunctional alginate-chitosan hydrogel enclosing silymarin and zinc ‎oxide ‎nanoparticles

Multifunctional wound dressings have been applied for burn injuries to avoid complications and promote tissue regeneration. In the present study, we fabricated a natural alginate-chitosan hydrogel comprising silymarin and green-synthesized zinc ‎oxide ‎nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Then, the physicochemical attributes of ZnO NPs and loaded hydrogels were analyzed. Afterward, wound healing efficacy was evaluated in a rat model of full-thickness dermal burn wounds. The findings indicated that ZnO NPs were synthesized via reduction with phytochemicals from Elettaria cardamomum seeds extract. The microscopic images exhibited fairly spherical ZnO NPs (35-45 nm), and elemental analysis verified the relevant composition. The hydrogel, containing silymarin and biosynthesized ZnO NPs, displayed a uniform appearance, smooth surfaces, and a porous structure. Moreover, infrared spectroscopy ‎identified functional groups, confirming the successful loading without adverse interactions. The obtained hydrogel exhibited great water absorption, high porosity, sustainable degradation for several days, and enhanced antioxidant capability of the combined loaded component. In vivo studies revealed faster and superior wound healing, achieving nearly complete closure by day 21. Histopathology confirmed improved cell growth, tissue regeneration, collagen deposition, and neovascularization. It is believed that this multifunctional hydrogel-based wound dressing can be applied for effective burn wound treatment.

Silk Sericin and Its Effect on Skin Wound Healing: A State of the Art

Despite the significant progress in wound healing, chronic skin wounds remain a challenge for today's medicine. Due to the growing popularity of natural materials, silk protein-based dressings are gaining more attention in this field. Most studies refer to silk fibroin because sericin has been considered a waste product for years. However, sericin is also worth noting. Sericin-based dressings are mainly studied in cell cultures or animals. Sericin is the dressings' main component or can be included in more complex, advanced biomaterials. Recent studies highlight sericin's important role, noting its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and beneficial effects in skin wound healing, such as antibacterial activity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, or angiogenic properties. Developing sericin-based biomaterials is often simple, free of toxic by-products, and inexpensive, requiring no highly sophisticated apparatus. As a result, sericin-based dressings can be widely used in wound healing and have low environmental impact. However, the literature in this area is further limited. The following review collects and describes recent studies showing silk sericin's influence on skin wound healing.

Preparation and Biochemical Activity of Copper-Coated Cellulose Nonwoven Fabric via Magnetron Sputtering and Alginate-Calcium Ion Complexation

Alginate-based materials have gained significant recognition in the medical industry due to their favorable biochemical properties. As a continuation of our previous studies, we have introduced a new composite consisting of cellulose nonwoven fabric charged with a metallic copper core (CNW-Cu0) covered with a calcium alginate (ALG-Ca2+) layer. The preparation process for these materials involved three main steps: coating the cellulose nonwoven fabric with copper via magnetron sputtering (CNW → CNW-Cu0), subsequent deposition with sodium alginate (CNW-Cu0 → CNW-Cu0/ALG-Na+), followed by cross-linking the alginate chains with calcium ions (CNW-Cu0/ALG-Na+ → CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+). The primary objective of the work was to supply these composites with such biological attributes as antibacterial and hemostatic activity. Namely, equipping the antibacterial materials (copper action on representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungal strains) with induction of blood plasma clotting processes (activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT)). We determined the effect of CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+ materials on the viability of Peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells. Moreover, we studied the interactions of CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+ materials with DNA using the relaxation plasmid assay. However, results showed CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+'s cytotoxic properties against PBM cells in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+ composite exhibited the potential to interact directly with DNA. The results demonstrated that the CNW-Cu0/ALG-Ca2+ composites synthesized show promising potential for wound dressing applications.

Innovative approaches to wound healing: insights into interactive dressings and future directions

The objective of this review is to provide an up-to-date and all-encompassing account of the recent advancements in the domain of interactive wound dressings. Considering the gap between the achieved and desired clinical outcomes with currently available or under-study wound healing therapies, newer more specific options based on the wound type and healing phase are reviewed. Starting from the comprehensive description of the wound healing process, a detailed classification of wound dressings is presented. Subsequently, we present an elaborate and significant discussion describing interactive (unconventional) wound dressings. Latter includes biopolymer-based, bioactive-containing and biosensor-based smart dressings, which are discussed in separate sections together with their applications and limitations. Moreover, recent (2-5 years) clinical trials, patents on unconventional dressings, marketed products, and other information on advanced wound care designs and techniques are discussed. Subsequently, the future research direction is highlighted, describing peptides, proteins, and human amniotic membranes as potential wound dressings. Finally, we conclude that this field needs further development and offers scope for integrating information on the healing process with newer technologies.

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

Sensors are applied to many fields nowadays because of their high sensitivity, low cost, time-saving, user-friendly, and excellent selectivity. Current biomedical and pharmaceutical science has one focus on developing nanoparticle-based sensors, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles. Alginate is a widely used biopolymer in a variety of applications. The hydrogel-forming characteristic, the chemical structure with hydroxy and carboxylate moieties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and water solubility of alginate have expanded opportunities in material and biomedical sciences. Recently, research on alginate-based nanoparticles and their applications has begun. These materials are gaining popularity because of their wide usage potential in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Many review papers describe applications of alginate in the drug delivery field. The current study covers the structural and physicochemical properties of alginate-based nanoparticles. The prospective applications of alginate-based nanomaterials in various domains are discussed, including drug delivery and environmental sensing applications for humidity, heavy metals, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, biomedical sensing applications of alginate-based nanoparticles regarding various analytes such as glucose, cancer cells, pharmaceutical drugs, and human motion will also be reviewed in this paper. Future research scopes highlight existing challenges and solutions.

Cannabinoids in Integumentary Wound Care: A Systematic Review of Emerging Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

This systematic review critically evaluates preclinical and clinical data on the antibacterial and wound healing properties of cannabinoids in integument wounds. Comprehensive searches were conducted across multiple databases, including CINAHL, Cochrane library, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and LILACS, encompassing records up to May 22, 2024. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Eleven were animal studies, predominantly utilizing murine models (n = 10) and one equine model, involving 437 animals. The seven human studies ranged from case reports to randomized controlled trials, encompassing 92 participants aged six months to ninety years, with sample sizes varying from 1 to 69 patients. The studies examined the effects of various cannabinoid formulations, including combinations with other plant extracts, crude extracts, and purified and synthetic cannabis-based medications administered topically, intraperitoneally, orally, or sublingually. Four animal and three human studies reported complete wound closure. Hemp fruit oil extract, cannabidiol (CBD), and GP1a resulted in complete wound closure in twenty-three (range: 5-84) days with a healing rate of 66-86% within ten days in animal studies. One human study documented a wound healing rate of 3.3 cm2 over 30 days, while three studies on chronic, non-healing wounds reported an average healing time of 54 (21-150) days for 17 patients by oral oils with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD and topical gels with THC, CBD, and terpenes. CBD and tetrahydrocannabidiol demonstrated significant potential in reducing bacterial loads in murine models. However, further high-quality research is imperative to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in the treatment of bacterial skin infections and wounds. Additionally, it is crucial to delineate the impact of medicinal cannabis on the various phases of wound healing. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021255413).

Recent Advances in Marine-Derived Compounds as Potent Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents: A Comprehensive Review

The increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms is a significant global health concern. Various factors contribute to AMR, including alterations in cell membrane permeability, increased efflux pump activity, enzymatic modification or inactivation of antibiotics, target site changes, alternative metabolic pathways, and biofilm formation. Marine environments, with their extensive biodiversity, provide a valuable source of natural products with a wide range of biological activities. Marine-derived antimicrobial compounds show significant potential against drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. This review discusses the current knowledge on marine natural products such as microorganisms, sponges, tunicates and mollusks with antibacterial and antifungal properties effective against drug-resistant microorganisms and their ecological roles. These natural products are classified based on their chemical structures, such as alkaloids, amino acids, peptides, polyketides, naphthoquinones, terpenoids, and polysaccharides. Although still in preclinical studies, these agents demonstrate promising in vivo efficacy, suggesting that marine sources could be pivotal in developing new drugs to combat AMR, thereby fulfilling an essential medical need. This review highlights the ongoing importance of marine biodiversity exploration for discovering potential antimicrobial agents.

Assessment of Alginate Gel Films as the Orodispersible Dosage Form for Meloxicam

The aim of this study was to obtain films based on sodium alginate (SA) for disintegration in the oral cavity. The films were prepared with a solvent-casting method, and meloxicam (MLX) as the active ingredient was suspended in a 3% sodium alginate solution. Two different solid-dosage-form additives containing different disintegrating agents, i.e., VIVAPUR 112® (MCC; JRS Pharma, Rosenberg, Germany) and Prosolve EASYtabs SP® (MIX; JRS Pharma, Rosenberg, Germany), were used, and four different combinations of drying time and temperature were tested. The influence of the used disintegrant on the properties of the ODFs (orodispersible films) was investigated. The obtained films were studied for their appearance, elasticity, mass uniformity, water content, meloxicam content and, finally, disintegration time, which was studied using two different methods. The films obtained with the solvent-casting method were flexible and homogeneous in terms of MLX content. Elasticity was slightly better when MIX was used as a disintegrating agent. However, these samples also revealed worse uniformity and mechanical durability. It was concluded that the best properties of the films were achieved using the mildest drying conditions. The type of the disintegrating agent had no effect on the amount of water remaining in the film after drying. The water content depended on the drying conditions. The disintegration time was not affected by the disintegrant type, but some differences were observed when various drying conditions were applied. However, regardless of the formulation type and manufacturing conditions, the analyzed films could not be classified as fast disintegrating films, as the disintegration time exceeded 30 s in all of the tested formulations.

A critical overview of challenging roles of medicinal plants in improvement of wound healing technology

PURPOSE

Chronic diseases often hinder the natural healing process, making wound infections a prevalent clinical concern. In severe cases, complications can arise, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. While allopathic treatments offer numerous options for wound repair and management, the enduring popularity of herbal medications may be attributed to their perceived minimal side effects. Hence, this review aims to investigate the potential of herbal remedies in efficiently treating wounds, presenting a promising alternative for consideration.

METHODS

A literature search was done including research, reviews, systematic literature review, meta-analysis, and clinical trials considered. Search engines such as Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were used while retrieving data. Keywords like Wound healing 'Wound healing and herbal combinations', 'Herbal wound dressing', Nanotechnology and Wound dressing were used.

RESULT

This review provides valuable insights into the role of natural products and technology-based formulations in the treatment of wound infections. It evaluates the use of herbal remedies as an effective approach. Various active principles from herbs, categorized as flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and phenolic compounds, have shown effectiveness in promoting wound closure. A multitude of herbal remedies have demonstrated significant efficacy in wound management, offering an additional avenue for care. The review encompasses a total of 72 studies, involving 127 distinct herbs (excluding any common herbs shared between studies), primarily belonging to the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Apiaceae. In research, rat models were predominantly utilized to assess wound healing activities. Furthermore, advancements in herbal-based formulations using nanotechnology-based wound dressing materials, such as nanofibers, nanoemulsions, nanofiber mats, polymeric fibers, and hydrogel-based microneedles, are underway. These innovations aim to enhance targeted drug delivery and expedite recovery. Several clinical-based experimental studies have already been documented, evaluating the efficacy of various natural products for wound care and management. This signifies a promising direction in the field of wound treatment.

CONCLUSION

In recent years, scientists have increasingly utilized evidence-based medicine and advanced scientific techniques to validate the efficacy of herbal medicines and delve into the underlying mechanisms of their actions. However, there remains a critical need for further research to thoroughly understand how isolated chemicals extracted from herbs contribute to the healing process of intricate wounds, which may have life-threatening consequences. This ongoing research endeavor holds great promise in not only advancing our understanding but also in the development of innovative formulations that expedite the recovery process.

TiO2-Alginate-Chitosan-Based Composites for Skin Tissue Engineering Applications

The UV-B component of sunlight damages the DNA in skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. Therefore, it is necessary to use creams that also contain UV-active substances. Many sunscreens contain titanium dioxide due to its capacity to absorb UV-B wavelengths. In the present study, titan dioxide was introduced in alginate and chitosan-alginate hydrogel composites that are often involved as scaffold compositions in tissue engineering applications. Alginate and chitosan were chosen due to their important role in skin regeneration and skin protection. The composites were cross-linked with calcium ions and investigated using FT-IR, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The stability of the obtained samples under solar irradiation for skin protection and regeneration was analyzed. Then, the hydrogel composites were assayed in vitro by immersing them in simulated body fluid and exposing them to solar simulator radiation for 10 min. The samples were found to be stable under solar light, and a thin apatite layer covered the surface of the sample with the two biopolymers and titanium dioxide. The in vitro cell viability assay suggested that the anatase phase in alginate and chitosan-alginate hydrogel composites have a positive impact.

Biopolymer based nanoparticles and their therapeutic potential in wound healing - A review

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively investigated for their potential in nanomedicine. There is a significant level of enthusiasm about the potential of NPs to bring out a transformative impact on modern healthcare. NPs can serve as effective wound dressings or delivery vehicles due to their antibacterial and pro-wound-healing properties. Biopolymer-based NPs can be manufactured using various food-grade biopolymers, such as proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic polymers, each offering distinct properties suitable for different applications which include collagen, polycaprolactone, chitosan, alginate, and polylactic acid, etc. Their biodegradable and biocompatible nature renders them ideal nanomaterials for applications in wound healing. Additionally, the nanofibers containing biopolymer-based NPs have shown excellent anti-bacterial and wound healing activity like silver NPs. These NPs represent a paradigm shift in wound healing therapies, offering targeted and personalized solutions for enhanced tissue regeneration and accelerated wound closure. The current review focuses on biopolymer NPs with their applications in wound healing.

Hydrogels in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Insights into Characterization, Properties, Formulation and Therapeutic Potential

Hydrogels are polymeric materials that possess a set of characteristics meeting various requirements of an ideal wound dressing, making them promising for wound care. These features include, among others, the ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water and the capacity to closely mimic native structures, such as the extracellular matrix, facilitating various cellular processes like proliferation and differentiation. The polymers used in hydrogel formulations exhibit a broad spectrum of properties, allowing them to be classified into two main categories: natural polymers like collagen and chitosan, and synthetic polymers such as polyurethane and polyethylene glycol. This review offers a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of the key polymers that can constitute hydrogels, beginning with a brief contextualization of the polymers. It delves into their function, origin, and chemical structure, highlighting key sources of extraction and obtaining. Additionally, this review encompasses the main intrinsic properties of these polymers and their roles in the wound healing process, accompanied, whenever available, by explanations of the underlying mechanisms of action. It also addresses limitations and describes some studies on the effectiveness of isolated polymers in promoting skin regeneration and wound healing. Subsequently, we briefly discuss some application strategies of hydrogels derived from their intrinsic potential to promote the wound healing process. This can be achieved due to their role in the stimulation of angiogenesis, for example, or through the incorporation of substances like growth factors or drugs, such as antimicrobials, imparting new properties to the hydrogels. In addition to substance incorporation, the potential of hydrogels is also related to their ability to serve as a three-dimensional matrix for cell culture, whether it involves loading cells into the hydrogel or recruiting cells to the wound site, where they proliferate on the scaffold to form new tissue. The latter strategy presupposes the incorporation of biosensors into the hydrogel for real-time monitoring of wound conditions, such as temperature and pH. Future prospects are then ultimately addressed. As far as we are aware, this manuscript represents the first comprehensive approach that brings together and critically analyzes fundamental aspects of both natural and synthetic polymers constituting hydrogels in the context of cutaneous wound healing. It will serve as a foundational point for future studies, aiming to contribute to the development of an effective and environmentally friendly dressing for wounds.

Microfluidic Preparation of pH-Responsive Microsphere Fibers and Their Controlled Drug Release Properties

In this study, a capillary microfluidic device was constructed, and sodium alginate solution and a pH-sensitive hydrophobic polymer (p(BMA-co-DAMA-co-MMA)) solution were introduced into the device for the preparation of hydrogel fibers loaded with polymer microspheres. The structure of the microsphere fiber, including the size and spacing of the microspheres, could be controlled by flow rate, and the microspheres were able to degrade and release cargo responding to acidic pH conditions. By modification with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), alginate hydrogel exhibited enhanced pH sensitivity (shrunk in acidic while swollen in basic condition). This led to an impact on the diffusion rate of the molecules released from the inner microspheres. The microsphere fiber showed dramatic and negligible degradation and drug release in tumor cell (i.e., A431 and A549 cells) and normal cell environments, respectively. These results indicated that the microsphere fiber prepared in this study showed selective drug release in acidic environments, such as tumor and inflammation sites, which could be applied as a smart surgical dressing with normal tissue protective properties.

Polysaccharide-based tumor microenvironment-responsive drug delivery systems for cancer therapy

The biochemical indicators of tumor microenvironment (TME) that are different from normal tissues provide the possibility for constructing intelligent drug delivery systems (DDSs). Polysaccharides with good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique biological properties are ideal materials for constructing DDSs. Nanogels, micelles, organic-inorganic nanocomposites, hydrogels, and microneedles (MNs) are common polysaccharide-based DDSs. Polysaccharide-based DDSs enable precise control of drug delivery and release processes by incorporating TME-specific biochemical indicators. The classification and design strategies of polysaccharide-based TME-responsive DDSs are comprehensively reviewed. The advantages and challenges of current polysaccharide-based DDSs are summarized and the future directions of development are foreseen. The polysaccharide-based TME-responsive DDSs are expected to provide new strategies and solutions for cancer therapy and make important contributions to the realization of precision medicine.

Polysaccharide/Carbon Quantum Dots Composite Film on Model Colloidal Particles-An Electro-Optical Study

Negatively charged carbon dots (Cdots) were successfully impregnated into chitosan/alginate film formed on model colloidal particles as a result of the attractive interactions with the chitosan molecules. The electrical properties of the produced films were studied by electrokinetic spectroscopy. In this study, the electric light scattering method was applied for first the time for the investigation of suspensions of carbon-based structures. The electro-optical behavior for the suspension of polymer-coated particles showed that the electric polarizability of the particle-covered layer from alginate was significantly higher compared to that of the layer from chitosan due to the higher charge density of alginate. The presence of a low concentration of Cdots in the film results in partial charge screening. It was confirmed that the polarizability of counterions with lower mobility along the adsorbed polyion chains was responsible for the registered electro-optical effect from the suspension of polymer-coated particles and that the participation of diffuse H+ counterions of Cdots in the creation of the electro-optical effect was negligible. The observed oscillation behavior in the evolution of the film thickness was interpreted through the participation of compensatory effects due to the additional adsorption/desorption of polyelectrolyte complexes from the film surface. The concentration of Cdots in the film was determined, and the loaded amount was ca. 6.6 µg/mL per layer.

A Critical Review on Classified Excipient Sodium-Alginate-Based Hydrogels: Modification, Characterization, and Application in Soft Tissue Engineering

Alginates are polysaccharides that are produced naturally and can be isolated from brown sea algae and bacteria. Sodium alginate (SA) is utilized extensively in the field of biological soft tissue repair and regeneration owing to its low cost, high biological compatibility, and quick and moderate crosslinking. In addition to their high printability, SA hydrogels have found growing popularity in tissue engineering, particularly due to the advent of 3D bioprinting. There is a developing curiosity in tissue engineering with SA-based composite hydrogels and their potential for further improvement in terms of material modification, the molding process, and their application. This has resulted in numerous productive outcomes. The use of 3D scaffolds for growing cells and tissues in tissue engineering and 3D cell culture is an innovative technique for developing in vitro culture models that mimic the in vivo environment. Especially compared to in vivo models, in vitro models were more ethical and cost-effective, and they stimulate tissue growth. This article discusses the use of sodium alginate (SA) in tissue engineering, focusing on SA modification techniques and providing a comparative examination of the properties of several SA-based hydrogels. This review also covers hydrogel preparation techniques, and a catalogue of patents covering different hydrogel formulations is also discussed. Finally, SA-based hydrogel applications and future research areas concerning SA-based hydrogels in tissue engineering were examined.