ZnO microparticle‐loaded chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/acacia gum nanosphere‐based nanocomposite thin film wound dressings for accelerated wound healing

Core-shell nanofiber dressings with zinc oxide nanoparticles and cell-free fat extract: boosting fibroblast activity and antibacterial efficacy

BACKGROUND

This study presents the development and characterization of innovative core-shell nanofiber wound dressings incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and cell-free fat extract (CEFFE) to enhance fibroblast activity and antibacterial efficacy.

RESULTS

CEFFE was prepared and analyzed, revealing high concentrations of essential growth factors, particularly bFGF and TGF-β1, supporting its therapeutic potential in tissue regeneration. The fabricated nanofibers (PLCL, nZnO/PLCL, PLCL-CEFFE/HA, and nZnO/PLCL-CEFFE/HA) were examined using FE-SEM and TEM, demonstrating successful encapsulation and morphological variations due to nZnO incorporation. XRD analysis confirmed the structural integrity and effective loading of nZnO and CEFFE. Hydrophilicity assessment via water contact angle measurements showed that CEFFE/HA significantly enhanced the hydrophilicity of PLCL membranes, crucial for wound exudate management. Mechanical tests indicated that CEFFE/HA addition maintained the scaffold's mechanical robustness, while nZnO slightly reduced mechanical properties. In vitro release studies revealed a biphasic release pattern of Zn²⁺ ions and growth factors from nZnO/PLCL-CEFFE/HA nanofibers, ensuring prolonged antibacterial activity and sustained therapeutic effects. Antibacterial assays demonstrated significant efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus, attributed to nZnO. MTT assays and FE-SEM analysis confirmed enhanced NIH-3T3 cell proliferation and adhesion on PLCL-CEFFE/HA nanofibers due to the controlled release of growth factors. The scratch assay showed superior cell migration and wound healing potential for PLCL-CEFFE/HA formulations.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the potential of nZnO/PLCL-CEFFE/HA core-shell nanofibers as multifunctional wound dressings, combining antibacterial properties with enhanced tissue regeneration capabilities. However, further studies are needed to assess long-term stability and in vivo performance, which represent key challenges for future research.

Polymer-Based Wound Dressings Loaded with Essential Oil for the Treatment of Wounds: A Review

Wound healing can result in complex problems, and discovering an effective method to improve the healing process is essential. Polymeric biomaterials have structures similar to those identified in the extracellular matrix of the tissue to be regenerated and also avoid chronic inflammation, and immunological reactions. To obtain smart and effective dressings, bioactive agents, such as essential oils, are also used to promote a wide range of biological properties, which can accelerate the healing process. Therefore, we intend to explore advances in the potential for applying hybrid materials in wound healing. For this, fifty scientific articles dated from 2010 to 2023 were investigated using the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed databases. The principles of the healing process, use of polymers, type and properties of essential oils and processing techniques, and characteristics of dressings were identified. Thus, the plants Syzygium romanticum or Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum present prospects for application in clinical trials due to their proven effects on wound healing and reducing the incidence of inflammatory cells in the site of injury. The antimicrobial effect of essential oils is mainly due to polyphenols and terpenes such as eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, and thymol.

Influence of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Carbon Nanotubes on the Structural, Electrical, and Photoluminescent Properties of Chitosan Films

Chitosan is a biopolymer with unique properties that have attracted considerable attention in various scientific fields in recent decades. Although chitosan is known for its poor electrical and mechanical properties, there is interest in producing chitosan-based materials reinforced with carbon-based materials to impart exceptional properties such as high electrical conductivity and high Young's modulus. This study describes the synergistic effect of carbon-based materials, such as reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, in improving the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of chitosan-based films. Our findings demonstrate that the incorporation of reduced graphene oxide influences the crystallinity of chitosan, which considerably impacts the mechanical properties of the films. However, the incorporation of a reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotube complex not only significantly improves the mechanical properties but also significantly improves the optical and electrical properties, as was demonstrated from the photoluminescence studies and resistivity measurements employing the four-probe technique. This is a promising prospect for the synthesis of new materials, such as biopolymer films, with potential applications in optical, electrical, and biomedical bioengineering applications.

Composite Membrane Dressings System with Metallic Nanoparticles as an Antibacterial Factor in Wound Healing

Wound management is the burning problem of modern medicine, significantly burdening developed countries’ healthcare systems. In recent years, it has become clear that the achievements of nanotechnology have introduced a new quality in wound healing. The application of nanomaterials in wound dressing significantly improves their properties and promotes the healing of injuries. Therefore, this review paper presents the subjectively selected nanomaterials used in wound dressings, including the metallic nanoparticles (NPs), and refers to the aspects of their application as antimicrobial factors. The literature review was supplemented with the results of our team’s research on the elements of multifunctional new-generation dressings containing nanoparticles. The wound healing multiple molecular pathways, mediating cell types, and affecting agents are discussed herein. Moreover, the categorization of wound dressings is presented. Additionally, some materials and membrane constructs applied in wound dressings are described. Finally, bacterial participation in wound healing and the mechanism of the antibacterial function of nanoparticles are considered. Membranes involving NPs as the bacteriostatic factors for improving wound healing of skin and bones, including our experimental findings, are discussed in the paper. In addition, some studies of our team concerning the selected bacterial strains’ interaction with material involving different metallic NPs, such as AuNPs, AgNPs, Fe₃O₄NPs, and CuNPs, are presented. Furthermore, nanoparticles’ influence on selected eukaryotic cells is mentioned. The ideal, universal wound dressing still has not been obtained; thus, a new generation of products have been developed, represented by the nanocomposite materials with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties that can influence the wound-healing process.

Electrospun Scaffold of Collagen and Polycaprolactone Containing ZnO Quantum Dots for Skin Wound Regeneration

Nanofibers (NFs) have been widely used in tissue engineering such as wound healing. In this work, the antibacterial ZnO quantum dots (ZnO QDs) have been incorporated into the biocompatible poly (ε-caprolactone)/collagen (PCL/Col) fibrous scaffolds for wound healing. The as-fabricated PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds exhibited good swelling, antibacterial activity, and biodegradation behaviors, which were beneficial for the applications as a wound dressing. Moreover, the PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds showed excellent cytocompatibility for promoting cell proliferation. The resultant PCL-Col/ZnO fibrous scaffolds containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also exhibited promoted wound-healing effect through promoting expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and the vascular factor (CD31) in tissues in the early stages of wound healing. This new electrospun fibrous scaffolds with wound-healing promotion and antibacterial property should be convenient for treating wound healing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42235-021-00115-7.