Antibacterial composite hydrogels of graphene quantum dots and bacterial cellulose accelerate wound healing

Abstract

The increased antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria requires intense research of new wound healing agents. Novel wound dressings should be designed to provide wound disinfection, good moisture, and fast epithelization. In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC) was impregnated with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for potential use in wound healing treatment. The BC was successfully loaded with approximately 11.7 wt% of GQDs. The actual release of GQDs from new designed composite hydrogels were 13%. Novel GQDs‐BC hydrogel composites are biocompatible and showed significant inhibition towards Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae and bactericidal effect towards Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The in vitro healing analysis showed significant migration of human fibroblasts after the GQDs‐BC hydrogels application. Furthermore, after 72 h exposure to GQDs‐BC, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, vascular endothelial growth factor A, matrix metallopeptidase 9, and Vimentin gene expression in fibroblast were significantly upregulated promoting angiogenesis. GQDs‐BC hydrogel composites showed very good wound fluid absorption and water retention, which satisfies good dressing properties. All obtained results propose new designed GQDs‐BC hydrogels as potential wound dressings.

Application of Quantum Dots in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging, Drug Delivery, Anti-Bacterial Activity, Photo-Thermal, Photo-Dynamic Therapy, and Optoelectronic Devices

“…Moreover, PC-CQDs really advanced injury recuperating in rats tainted with blended Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by repressing bacterial development while advancing the arrival of inflammatory cytokines and development factors fundamental for tissue repair. A few examinations have revealed the expected antibacterial action of these QDs for genuine injury mending applications in complex bacterial contaminations and, surprisingly, safe microorganisms caused diseases Application of Quantum Dots in Bio-Sensing, Bio-Imaging, Drug Delivery, Anti-Bacterial… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107018 [63,[66][67][68][69]. Recent research showed the successful application of Quaternized carbon quantum dots (CQDs) which have excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.…”

Scaffolds in the microbial resistant era: Fabrication, materials, properties and tissue engineering applications

“…Zmejkoski et al. recently reported a novel hydrogel composite based on bacterial cellulose impregnated with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for wound healing treatment [ 304 ]. The cellulose polymeric matrix was loaded with ca.…”

“…Some studies, however, did not include biocompatibility assays [ 279 , 284 , 285 , 288 ]. Fibroblasts [ 293 , 294 , 299 , 300 , 302 , 304 ], fibroblast-like cells [ 301 ], epidermal [ 296 ], endothermal [ 297 ] and keratinocytes [ 298 , 303 ] were used as cell models to evaluate the cytotoxicity of antibacterial scaffolds prepared with antibacterial polymers, peptides and scaffolds incorporating carbon nanomaterials. The approaches reported by the in vivo assays also showed good wound healing efficacy [ 293 , 299 , 302 , 303 ].…”

Structural, optical, and bioimaging characterization of carbon quantum dots solvothermally synthesized from o-phenylenediamine

“…In addition, we examined antibacterial and cytotoxic properties. An important issue is the preparation of CQDs and polymer-based composites and their possible antibacterial activity including the usage in wound healing [24]. Different authors prepared CQDs by using various precursors and reported on their excellent antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility [25][26][27][28][29].…”