Development of Inherently Antibacterial, Biodegradable, and Biologically Active Chitosan/Pseudo-Protein Hybrid Hydrogels as Biofunctional Wound Dressings

Abstract

Developing a new family of hydrogel-based wound dressings that could have a dual biofunctionality of antibacterial and biological responses is highly desirable. In this study, an inherently effective antibacterial and biodegradable hydrogel dressing without the need for impregnated antibiotics was designed, synthesized, characterized, and examined for its effect on macrophages, which initiated inflammatory activity and activated both NO and TNF-α production for the purpose of achieving a better and faster wound healing. The purposes of this research was to develop a novel family of cationic biodegradable hydrogels based on arginine-based poly(ester urea urethane) (Arg-PEUU) and glycidyl methacrylate-modified chitosan (CS-GMA) that has both inherent antibacterial and bioactive functionality as a wound healing dressing for accelerated healing of contaminated or infected wounds. These hybrid hydrogels present a well-defined three-dimensional microporous network structure and have a high water absorption ability, and their biodegradation is effectively accelerated in the presence of lysozymes. The hemolytic activity test, MTT assay, and live/dead assay of these hybrid hydrogels indicated that they had no cytotoxicity toward red blood cells, NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, and human vascular endothelial cells, thus corroborating their cytocompatibility. Furthermore, these hybrid hydrogels could elevate the release of both produced NO and TNF-α by stimulating and activating RAW 264.7 macrophages, augmenting their antibacterial biological response. The antibacterial assay of these hybrid hydrogels demonstrated their excellent antibacterial activity without the need for impregnated antibacterial agents. Taken together, this new family of biodegradable, antibacterial, and biologically responsive hybrid hydrogels exhibits great potential as biofunctional antibacterial wound dressing candidates for wound healing.

Chitosan‐based nanocomposites for medical applications

“…Besides that, mechanical responses of hydrogels are likely to imitate that of native soft tissues, which will make it easier to assure the functional characteristics of the tissue to be repaired. 16,36,37,39 This is one major reason why hydrogels are used as scaffolds in biomedical applications. Nanoparticle incorporation into a chitosan matrix enhances mechanical strength, shape recovery, and stimuliresponse of chitosan-based hydrogels.…”

“…Many features such as cytotoxicity, mechanical properties as well as healing efficiencies have to be considered while fabricating a scaffold/substrate for tissue regeneration. Various existing methodologies have been adapted for processing of chitosan‐based nanocomposites into films, 34 fiber‐meshes, 35 hydrogels, 36–40 and 3D printed constructs 41 to mimic the 3D environment of tissues. Processing into a freestanding thin film is the easiest choice and affordable route to evaluate the physico‐mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the designed nanocomposites 42–44 .…”

“…Most importantly, hydrogels are mostly very soft in nature and often self‐recoverable in shape, which will be useful during, for example, implantation. Besides that, mechanical responses of hydrogels are likely to imitate that of native soft tissues, which will make it easier to assure the functional characteristics of the tissue to be repaired 16,36,37,39 . This is one major reason why hydrogels are used as scaffolds in biomedical applications.…”

PLLA–gelatin composite fiber membranes incorporated with functionalized CeNPs as a sustainable wound dressing substitute promoting skin regeneration and scar remodeling

“…4,5 However, traditional wound dressings cannot promote wound healing well due to poor cytocompatibility, poor adhesion to the tissues, low growth activity, and inflammatory reactions. [6][7][8][9][10] Therefore, it is necessary to prepare low-cost sustainable wound dressings that can meet the above requirements.…”

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Modified Glycidyl Methacrylate–Ethyl Methacrylate Oligomers, Their Physico-Chemical and Biological Characteristics

“…The Si-doped HG is a potential candidate for future skin regeneration clinical applications. Further modification of glycidyl methacrylate-based polymers with arginine-based poly(ester urea urethane) and chitosan resulted in the creation of cationic biodegradable HGs, that demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity [52]. The hybrid HGs exhibit great potential as antibacterial wound-dressing candidates for wound healing.…”