Design and Investigation of an Eco‐Friendly Wound Dressing Composed of Green Bioresources‐ Soy Protein, Tapioca Starch, and Gellan Gum

Abstract

In the fields of biomedicine and tissue engineering, natural polymer-based tissue-engineered scaffolds are used in multiple applications. As a plant-derived polymer, soy protein, containing multiple amino acids, is structurally similar to components of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) of tissues. It is biological safety provided a good potential to be material for pure natural scaffolds. Moreover, as a protein, the properties of soy protein can be easily adjusted by modifying the functional groups on it. In addition, by blending soy protein with other synthetic and natural polymers, the mechanical characteristics and bioactive behavior of scaffolds can be facilitated for a variety of bio-applications. In this research, soy protein and polysaccharides tapioca starch are used, and gellan gum to develop a protein-based composite scaffold for cell engineering. The morphology and surface chemical composition are characterized via micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The soy/tapioca/gellan gum (STG) composite scaffolds selectively help the adhesion and proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells while improving the migration of L929 fibroblast cells in STG composite scaffolds as the increase of soy protein proportion of the scaffold. In addition, STG composite scaffolds show great potential in the wound healing model to enhance rapid epithelialization and tissue granulation.

Soy Protein-Based Wound Dressings: A Review of Their Preparation, Properties, and Perspectives

“…The porous microarchitecture of scaffolds enables the integration of diverse cell types, creating a three-dimensional environment that supports various cell populations, promotes cell–cell interactions, and facilitates tissue development . Soy Protein/Tapioca Starch/Gellan Gum (STG) composite scaffolds were prepared by C. W. Lin, Wu, Chuang, Fan, and Yu, the scaffolds were found to have an increased proportion of soy protein in them that contributed to the adhesion and proliferation of L929 fibroblasts, and the STG composite scaffolds showed great potential to enhance rapid epithelialization and tissue granulation in a wound healing model. Spongy scaffolds composed of SPI and the β-chitin were shown to maintain cell viability in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for 1 week and to shorten wound healing time in vivo, requiring only one dressing change in 2 weeks .…”

“…Without the need for additional growth factors, soy protein itself can stimulate tissue cells to generate new tissue. Studies involving SPI/PEO nanofiber scaffolds on human epithelial cells and STG composite scaffolds composite scaffolds on L929 cells have demonstrated no loss of cell viability. Moreover, soy protein can be used as a nutrient to stimulate the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells, leading to an increase in the number of hair follicles in the wound area.…”