Natural wound healing is a highly complex and regulated process. Disruption and barriers to cellular and tissue repair processes contributes to impaired wound healing, including sustained infections. Superficial wound healing requires many factors to work in concrete at the wound site, and thus many treatment options and wound dressings have evolved to address the barriers to wound healing. Biomaterials are proven to encourage the wound healing process by stimulating repair and regeneration of injured tissues and preventing wound infections. A wide range of natural and synthetic hydrophilic and porous formulations such as foams, films, fibers, and hydrogels have been examined for these applications. Among these formulations, polymeric hydrogels have gained considerable interest in the medical applications. They effectively absorb wound exudates and provide a moist environment for aiding the wound healing process. However, chronic wounds that are sustained longer might need supplementary healing features as addendums such as antimicrobials, stem cells, growth factors, peptides, vitamins, and natural compounds. Therefore, when combined with hydrogels healing supporting addendums promote rapid and effective wound healing. Although there have been several advancements in biopolymer-based hydrogel systems, only limited reviews on various management strategies in wound healing are available in medical research and applications.Therefore, in this review, we have compiled and integrated various hydrogel-based approaches with the potential to improve chronic wound healing and advance important outcomes. In addition, in-situ injectable hydrogel preparation that have the advantage of packing patient wounds of different sizes and using 3D printing based tailor-made hydrogels, and bio-inks for wound closure applications are also highlighted.

The polymicrobial biofilm of C. albicans with E. coli exhibits a dynamic interspecies interaction and is refractory to conventional antimicrobials. In this study, a high biofilm-forming multidrug-resistant strain of C. albicans overcomes inhibition by E. coli in a 24 h coculture. However, following treatment with whole Aqueous Garlic Extract (AGE), these individual biofilms of multidrug-resistant C. albicans M-207 and Ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli ATCC 39936 and their polymicrobial biofilm were prevented, as evidenced by biochemical and structural characterization. This study advances the antimicrobial potential of AGE to inhibit drug-resistant C. albicans and bacterial-associated polymicrobial biofilms, suggesting the potential for effective combinatorial and synergistic antimicrobial designs with minimal side effects.

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Aim: Optimization of Candida albicans growth and biofilm formation is essential for understanding the recalcitrance of this pathogen to advance functional analysis on hospital tools and material surfaces. Optimization and quantification of biofilm have always been a challenge using the conventional one variable at a time (OVAT) method. The present study uses central composite design-based response surface methodology for optimization of conditions to induce growth and biofilm formation in Candida albicans on polystyrene microtiter plates. Methods and Results:Statistical software package, Stat Soft®, STASTICA version 12.6 was used for data analysis. The variables considered in the design matrix were media pH, temperature, incubation period, shaker speed and inoculum size. A fourpronged quantification approach with XTT assay (cell viability), crystal violet assay (biofilm), calcofluor white assay and wet/dry weight measurements (cell mass) was used to understand different aspects of biofilm formation. Cell viability and cell mass were inversely related; however, biofilm was independent of these two factors. The study also highlighted the fact that foetal bovine serum does not significantly contribute to cell adhesion and in turn in vitro biofilm formation in some of the cultures. Conclusions: A high-throughput optimization of C. albicans growth and biofilm formation on polystyrene microplate has been developed and validated. Significance and Impact of Study:This is a first time approach to optimize the interaction of parameters for C. albicans biofilm formation using RSM. Heterogeneity in growth conditions for local strains of C. albicans clinical isolates was observed. This microtiter plate-based method can be used for future screening of therapeutics for the control of C. albicans.

Biofilm formation is one of the crucial factors for virulence in Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and their polymicrobial biofilm formed on medical prosthetics. In this study, high biofilm forming C. albicans M207 from a case of invasive candidiasis and a standard strain of bacterial culture E. coli ATCC 39936 were used for initial screening and media optimization using One Variable at a time (OVAT) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) models, respectively, in polystyrene microtiter plates for in vitro biofilm studies. Sucrose and peptone significantly affected biofilm formation when screened by OVAT. Media optimization by Central Composite Design (CCD) showed that pH significantly affected biofilm formation for all the cultures which was further validated at critical parameters. Biofilm was quantified by growth OD measurements, MTT and CV assays in the presence and absence of FBS precoating and compared with standard Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB) media which did not show any significant difference. This high throughput polystyrene microtiter plate assay for preliminary screening of nutritional components using OVAT and media optimization using RSM model is being reported for the first time for biofilm formation by C. albicans and E. coli in a single and dual species environment. This study is essential for functional analysis of in‐vitro growth and biofilm formation by these two pathogenic strains on polymeric hospital equipments and to develop suitable control measures to inhibit biofilm formation by C. albicans and E. coli single species and their co‐culture.