Nanotechnology in Wound Care: One Step Closer to the Clinic

Developmental prospects of carrageenan-based wound dressing films: Unveiling techno-functional properties and freeze-drying technology for the development of absorbent films - A review

This review explores the intricate wound healing process, emphasizing the critical role of dressing material selection, particularly for chronic wounds with high exudate levels. The aim is to tailor biodegradable dressings for comprehensive healing, focusing on maximizing moisture retention, a vital element for adequate recovery. Researchers are designing advanced wound dressings that enhance techno-functional and bioactive properties, minimizing healing time and ensuring cost-effective care. The study delves into wound dressing materials, highlighting carrageenan biocomposites superior attributes and potential in advancing wound care. Carrageenan's versatility in various biomedical applications demonstrates its potential for tissue repair, bone regeneration, and drug delivery. Ongoing research explores synergistic effects by combining carrageenan with other novel materials, aiming for complete biocompatibility. As innovative solutions emerge, carrageenan-based wound-healing medical devices are poised for global accessibility, addressing challenges associated with the complex wound-healing process. The exceptional physico-mechanical properties of carrageenan make it well-suited for highly exudating wounds, offering a promising avenue to revolutionize wound care through freeze-drying techniques. This thorough approach to evaluating the wound healing effectiveness of carrageenan-based films, particularly emphasizing the development potential of lyophilized films, has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for patients receiving wound healing treatments.

Electrospinning of biomimetic materials with fibrinogen for effective early-stage wound healing

Electrospun biomimetic materials based on polyester of natural origin poly-3-hudroxybutyrate (PHB) modified with hemin (Hmi) and fibrinogen (Fbg) represent a great interest and are potentially applicable in various fields. Here, we describe formulation of the new fibrous PHB-Fbg and PHB-Hmi-Fbg materials with complex structure for biomedical application. The average diameter of the fibers was 3.5 μm and 1.8 μm respectively. Hmi presence increased porosity from 80 % to 94 %, significantly reduced the number of defects, ensured the formation of a larger number of open pores, and improved mechanical properties. Hmi presence significantly improved the molding properties of the material. Hmi facilitated effective Fbg adsorption on the of the PHB wound-healing material, ensuring uniform localization of the protein on the surface of the fibers. Next, we evaluated cytocompatibility, cell behavior, and open wound healing in mice. The results demonstrated that PHB-Fbg and PHB-Hmi-Fbg electrospun materials had pronounced properties and may be promising for early-stage wound healing - the PHB-Hmi-Fbg sample accelerated wound closure by 35 % on the 3rd day, and PHB-Hmi showed 45 % more effective wound closure on the 15th day.

Naringin and graphene oxide incorporated Moringa oleifera gum/poly(vinyl) alcohol patch for enhanced wound healing

Patients and healthcare systems stand to gain much from the use of substances that can accelerate wound healing. In this research work, a polymeric patch was fabricated using polymers like poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Moringa oleifera gum (MO) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) and naringin (Nar) (drug). This study determined the impact of using PVA/MO/GO/Nar polymeric patch on wound healing via in vitro and in vivo investigations. Graphene oxide was synthesized by modified Hummer's method. The synthesized sample was characterized using XRD, FT-IR, RAMAN Spectroscopy, FESEM and HRTEM. Antibacterial analysis of the GO on four different bacteria was studied through well diffusion, colony count, growth curve and biofilm assay. Biocompatibility was analysed by haemolysis assay. The morphology, antibacterial activity, haemolysis assay, swelling, degradation, porosity, water vapour transmission rate, drug release, blood pump model, in-vitro scratch assay and MTT assay were analysed for the fabricated polymeric patches under in-vitro condition. The PVA/MO/GO/Nar patch has shown enhanced wound healing in in-vivo wound healing experiments on albino Wistar rats.

Role of Nanotechnology and Their Perspectives in the Treatment of Kidney Diseases

Nanoparticles (NPs) are differing in particle size, charge, shape, and compatibility of targeting ligands, which are linked to improved pharmacologic characteristics, targetability, and bioavailability. Researchers are now tasked with developing a solution for enhanced renal treatment that is free of side effects and delivers the medicine to the active spot. A growing number of nano-based medication delivery devices are being used to treat renal disorders. Kidney disease management and treatment are currently causing a substantial global burden. Renal problems are multistep processes involving the accumulation of a wide range of molecular and genetic alterations that have been related to a variety of kidney diseases. Renal filtration is a key channel for drug elimination in the kidney, as well as a burgeoning topic of nanomedicine. Although the use of nanotechnology in the treatment of renal illnesses is still in its early phases, it offers a lot of potentials. In this review, we summarized the properties of the kidney and characteristics of drug delivery systems, which affect a drug’s ability should focus on the kidney and highlight the possibilities, problems, and opportunities.

An Up‐to‐Date Review on Alginate Nanoparticles and Nanofibers for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Alginate is a naturally occurring polysaccharide commonly derived from brown algae cell walls which possesses unique features that make it extremely promising for several biomedical and pharmaceutical purposes. Alginate biomaterials are indeed nowadays gaining increasing interest in drug delivery and tissue engineering applications owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility, non‐toxicity, versatility, low cost, and ease of functionalization. Specifically, alginate‐based nanostructures show enhanced capabilities with respect to alginate bulk materials in the targeted delivery of drugs and chemotherapies, as well as in helping tissue reparation and regeneration. Hence, it is not surprising that the number of scientific reports related to this topic have rapidly grown in the last decade. With these premises, the present review aims to provide a comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art of the most recent advances in the preparation of alginate‐based nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery, cancer therapy, and tissue engineering purposes. After a short introduction concerning the general properties and uses of alginate and the concept of nanotechnology, the recent literature is then critically presented to highlight the main advantages of alginate‐based nanostructures. Finally, the current limitations and the future perspectives and objectives are discussed in detail.

Preparation and Pharmacokinetic Characterization of an Anti-Virulence Compound Nanosuspensions

Antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide public health threat due to the rapid evolution and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. CCG-211790 is a novel anti-virulence compound that does not kill bacteria but could ameliorate human diseases by inhibiting expression of virulence factors, thereby applying less selection pressure for antibiotic resistance. However, its potential clinical use is restricted because of its poor aqueous solubility, resulting in formulation challenges. Nanosuspension technology is an effective way to circumvent this problem. Nanosuspensions of CCG-211790 with two different particle sizes, NanoA (315 ± 6 nm) and NanoB (915 ± 24 nm), were prepared using an antisolvent precipitation-ultrasonication method with Tween 80 as the stabilizer. Particle and pharmacokinetics (PK) of CCG-211790 nanosuspensions were characterized. Both NanoA and NanoB demonstrated remarkable increases in dissolution rate compared with the bulk compound. The PK parameters of NanoA were comparable to those of CCG-211790 solution formulation in intravenous or oral administration, suggesting that CCG-211790 nanosuspensions with smaller particle size improved oral bioavailability and drug exposure compared to traditional formulations of drug candidates.

Multifunctional Zinc Oxide/Silver Bimetallic Nanomaterial-Loaded Nanofibers for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration and Wound Healing

Native skin repair requires wound care products that not only protect the wound from bacterial infection, but also accelerate wound closure and minimize scarring. Nanomaterials have been widely applied for wound healing due to their multifunctional properties. In a previous study, we prepared and characterized electrospinning zinc oxide/silver/polyvinylpyrrolidone/polycaprolactone (ZnO/Ag/PVP/PCL) nanofibers using ZnO and Ag nanoparticles, and evaluated their antibacterial effect in vitro. In this work, further characterization studies were performed, which confirmed that the ZnO/Ag nanoparticles were physically embedded and evenly distributed in the ZnO/Ag/PVP/PCL nanofibers, enabling the sustained release of Ag and Zn. In addition, the bimetallic nanofibers showed satisfactory fluid handling and flexibility. In vivo wound healing and histology studies showed that the ZnO/Ag/PVP/PCL nanofibers had a better anti-inflammatory, skin tissue regeneration, and wound healing effect than monometallic nanofibers or a commercially available wound plaster (Yunnan Baiyao). Therefore, ZnO/Ag/PVP/PCL bimetallic nanofibers may be a safe, efficient biomedical dressing for wound healing.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (Nanoceria): Hopes in Soft Tissue Engineering

Several biocompatible materials have been applied for managing soft tissue lesions; cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs, or nanoceria) are among the most promising candidates due to their outstanding properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and angiogenic activities. Much attention should be paid to the physical properties of nanoceria, since most of its biological characteristics are directly determined by some of these relevant parameters, including the particle size and shape. Nanoceria, either in bare or functionalized forms, showed the excellent capability of accelerating the healing process of both acute and chronic wounds. The skin, heart, nervous system, and ophthalmic tissues are the main targets of nanoceria-based therapies, and the other soft tissues may also be evaluated in upcoming experimental studies. For the repair and regeneration of soft tissue damage and defects, nanoceria-incorporated film, hydrogel, and nanofibrous scaffolds have been proven to be highly suitable replacements with satisfactory outcomes. Still, some concerns have remained regarding the long-term effects of nanoceria administration for human tissues and organs, such as its clearance from the vital organs. Moreover, looking at the future, it seems necessary to design and develop three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffolds containing nanoceria for possible use in the concepts of personalized medicine.

The potential antimalarial efficacy of hemocompatible silver nanoparticles from Artemisia species against P. falciparum parasite

Malaria represents one of the most common infectious diseases which becoming an impellent public health problem worldwide. Antimalarial classical medications include quinine-based drugs, like chloroquine, and artesunate, a derivative of artemisinin, a molecule found in the plant Artemisia annua. Such therapeutics are very effective but show heavy side effects like drug resistance. In this study, "green" silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been prepared from two Artemisia species (A. abrotanum and A. arborescens), traditionally used in folk medicine as a remedy for different conditions, and their potential antimalarial efficacy have been assessed. AgNPs have been characterized by UV-Vis, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential, FTIR, XRD, TEM and EDX. The structural characterization has demonstrated the spheroidal shape of nanoparticles and dimensions under 50 nm, useful for biomedical studies. Zeta potential analysis have shown the stability and dispersion of green AgNPs in aqueous medium without aggregation. AgNPs hemocompatibility and antimalarial activity have been studied in Plasmodium falciparum cultures in in vitro experiments. The antiplasmodial effect has been assessed using increasing doses of AgNPs (0.6 to 7.5 μg/mL) on parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs). Obtained data showed that the hemocompatibility of AgNPs is related to their synthetic route and depends on the administered dose. A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) have shown the lowest percentage of hemolytic activity on pRBCs, underlining their hemocompatibility. These results are in accordance with the lower levels of parasitemia observed after A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) treatment respect to A. arborescens-AgNPs (2), and AgNPs (3) derived from a classical chemical synthesis. Moreover, after 24 and 48 hours of A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) treatment, the parasite growth was locked in the ring stage, evidencing the effect of these nanoparticles to hinder the maturation of P. falciparum. The anti-malarial activity of A. abrotanum-AgNPs (1) on pRBCs was demonstrated to be higher than that of A. arborescens-AgNPs (2).

Electrospinning of natural polymers for the production of nanofibres for wound healing applications

Wound healing is a highly regulated process composed of four overlapping phases: (1) coagulation/haemostasis, (2) inflammation, (3) proliferation and (4) remodelling. Comorbidities such as advanced age, diabetes and obesity can impair natural tissue repair, rendering the wound in a pathological state of inflammation. This results in significant discomfort for patients and considerable financial costs for healthcare systems. Due to the complex nature of wound healing, current treatments are ineffective at dealing with delayed healing. With flexible properties that can be tailored, nanomaterials have emerged as alternative therapeutics for many biomedical applications. A nanofibrous network can be made via electrospinning polymers using a high electric field to create a responsive meshwork that can be used as a medical dressing. A nanofibrous device has properties that can overcome the limitations of traditional dressings, such as: (1) adaptability to wound contour; (2) controlled drug delivery of therapeutics; (3) gaseous exchange; (4) exudate absorption and (5) surface functionalisation to further enhance the biological activity of the dressing. This review details emerging trends in nanotechnology to specifically target wound healing applications. Particular focus is given to the most common natural polymers that could address many unmet healthcare needs.

Trends in Biotechnology at the Turn of the Millennium

BACKGROUND

The concept of biotechnology has gained wide popularity by the time. There is, of course, some anecdotal evidence as to what topics are currently considered the most prominent and how they can be compared to the common perception of which research topics were considered "trendy" years ago.

OBJECTIVE

A thorough search of exact time frames can help us quantitatively determine the evolution of prominent biotechnology research topics since the turn of the century.

METHODS

A text data mining approach has been followed to better identify the emerging trends and perspectives in biotechnology, taking a look back at how the focus of research and innovation in biotechnology has shifted, evolved and impacted the human race over the past three decades.

RESULTS

The extent of biotechnology today is vast, however, the most important newly developed research themes and patents largely influence human healthcare, affecting hundreds of millions of people who use grafts, devices, diagnostics, treatment and delivery systems. Even if biotechnology is very much focused on healthcare, there is also focus on other specialized concepts, such as biofuel, biocatalyst, food, agriculture and water purification, which have a strong influence on the research topics studied today.

CONCLUSION

We are in the process of developing the practice of medicine through pioneering advances in biotechnology research and innovation. As companies continue to develop emerging treatment strategies (involving gene therapy, stem cells, nanomedicine and new drug delivery systems) that address significant unmet needs, future innovations in biotechnology research will bring exciting new advancements to help millions of more people worldwide.

Fabrication of Chitosan/PVA/GO/CuO patch for potential wound healing application

Wound healing is a common issue in our day to day life. Our immune system repairs the damaged tissue by itself and its a time-consuming process. The GO/CuO nanocomposite (NC) was synthesized through the sol-gel method. XRD, FT-IR, Raman, and TEM analysis were used to analysis the physico-chemical properties of the sample. The GO/CuO patches were prepared using chitosan (Cs)/poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) due to its biocompatibility and biodegradable nature. The obtained patches showed better antimicrobial and wound healing property than recently reported materials. The GO/CuO NC plays a major part in angiogenesis process and in the synthesis, stabilization of extracellular matrix skin proteins. Thus, GO/CuO NC enhance the wound healing mechanism by increasing cell proliferation, antimicrobial property and rapid initiation of inflammatory. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of CuO, GO, GO/CuO and GO/CuO patch were tested against bacteria causing wound infections. Cs/PVA patch and Cs/PVA/GO/CuO patch were analyzed for swelling, evaporation and degradation behavior. Increase in cell viability and migration of NIH3t3 cells by NC patch shows a potential way for wound healing applications.

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle Incorporated Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Membranes for Diabetic Wound Healing Applications

Insufficient cell proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis are among the major causes for nonhealing of chronic diabetic wounds. Incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO₂) in wound dressings can be a promising approach to promote angiogenesis and healing of diabetic wounds. In this paper, we report the development of a novel nCeO₂ containing electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) membrane for diabetic wound healing applications. In vitro cell adhesion studies, chicken embryo angiogenesis assay, and in vivo diabetic wound healing studies were performed to assess the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing potential of the developed membranes. The experimental results showed that nCeO₂ containing PHBV membranes can promote cell proliferation and cell adhesion when used as wound dressings. For less than 1% w/w of nCeO₂ content, human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) were adhered parallel to the individual fibers of PHBV. For higher than 1% w/w of nCeO₂ content, cells started to flatten and spread over the fibers. In ovo angiogenic assay showed the ability of nCeO₂ incorporated PHBV membranes to enhance blood vessel formation. In vivo wound healing study in diabetic rats confirmed the wound healing potential of nCeO₂ incorporated PHBV membranes. The study suggests that nCeO₂ incorporated PHBV membranes have strong potential to be used as wound dressings to enhance cell proliferation and vascularization and promote the healing of diabetic wounds.

Functional Skin Grafts: Where Biomaterials Meet Stem Cells

Skin tissue engineering has attained several clinical milestones making remarkable progress over the past decades. Skin is inhabited by a plethora of cells spatiotemporally arranged in a 3-dimensional (3D) matrix, creating a complex microenvironment of cell-matrix interactions. This complexity makes it difficult to mimic the native skin structure using conventional tissue engineering approaches. With the advent of newer fabrication strategies, the field is evolving rapidly. However, there is still a long way before an artificial skin substitute can fully mimic the functions and anatomical hierarchy of native human skin. The current focus of skin tissue engineers is primarily to develop a 3D construct that maintains the functionality of cultured cells in a guided manner over a period of time. While several natural and synthetic biopolymers have been translated, only partial clinical success is attained so far. Key challenges include the hierarchical complexity of skin anatomy; compositional mismatch in terms of material properties (stiffness, roughness, wettability) and degradation rate; biological complications like varied cell numbers, cell types, matrix gradients in each layer, varied immune responses, and varied methods of fabrication. In addition, with newer biomaterials being adopted for fabricating patient-specific skin substitutes, issues related to escalating processing costs, scalability, and stability of the constructs under in vivo conditions have raised some concerns. This review provides an overview of the field of skin regenerative medicine, existing clinical therapies, and limitations of the current techniques. We have further elaborated on the upcoming tissue engineering strategies that may serve as promising alternatives for generating functional skin substitutes, the pros and cons associated with each technique, and scope of their translational potential in the treatment of chronic skin ailments.

Engineering the niche for hair regeneration - A critical review

Recent progress in hair follicle regeneration and alopecia treatment necessitates revisiting the concepts and approaches. In this sense, there is a need for shedding light on the clinical and surgical therapies benefitting from nanobiomedicine. From this perspective, this review attempts to recognize requirements upon which new hair therapies are grounded; to underline shortcomings and opportunities associated with recent advanced strategies for hair regeneration; and most critically to look over hair regeneration from nanomaterials and pluripotent stem cell standpoint. It is noteworthy that nanotechnology is able to illuminate a novel path for reprogramming cells and controlled differentiation to achieve the desired performance. Undoubtedly, this strategy needs further advancement and a lot of critical questions have yet to be answered. Herein, we introduce the salient features, the hurdles that must be overcome, the hopes, and practical constraints to engineer stem cell niches for hair follicle regeneration.

Exploring and Exploiting Tissue Engineering Through the Design of Multifunctional Therapeutic Systems

This article presents a special issue of "Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy" devoted to exploring and exploiting tissue engineering through the design of multifunctional therapeutic systems. This lead article draws from twelve contributed articles to discuss the most recent advancements in this emerging field. The common theme in the contributed articles is the emerging therapeutic strategies, and a special appeal is made for collaboration between engineers and biologists for the development of multifunctional therapeutic systems for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Biomedical applications of nanoceria: new roles for an old player

The use of different biomaterials with the ability to accelerate the repair and regeneration processes is of great importance in tissue engineering strategies. On this point, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs or nanoceria) have recently attracted much attention due to their excellent biological properties including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation and antibacterial activities as well as high angiogenic potential. The results of incorporation of these nano-sized particles into various constructs and scaffolds designed for tissue engineering applications have proven the success of this strategy in terms of improving healing process of different tissues. In this review, we first summarize the physicochemical and biological properties of nanoceria in brief and then present its usability in tissue engineering strategies based on the currently available published reports.