Engineered Nanotechnology: An Effective Therapeutic Platform for the Chronic Cutaneous Wound

Abstract

The healing of chronic wound infections, especially cutaneous wounds, involves a complex cascade of events demanding mutual interaction between immunity and other natural host processes. Wound infections are caused by the consortia of microbial species that keep on proliferating and produce various types of virulence factors that cause the development of chronic infections. The mono- or polymicrobial nature of surface wound infections is best characterized by its ability to form biofilm that renders antimicrobial resistance to commonly administered drugs due to poor biofilm matrix permeability. With an increasing incidence of chronic wound biofilm infections, there is an urgent need for non-conventional antimicrobial approaches, such as developing nanomaterials that have intrinsic antimicrobial-antibiofilm properties modulating the biochemical or biophysical parameters in the wound microenvironment in order to cause disruption and removal of biofilms, such as designing nanomaterials as efficient drug-delivery vehicles carrying antibiotics, bioactive compounds, growth factor antioxidants or stem cells reaching the infection sites and having a distinct mechanism of action in comparison to antibiotics—functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) for better incursion through the biofilm matrix. NPs are thought to act by modulating the microbial colonization and biofilm formation in wounds due to their differential particle size, shape, surface charge and composition through alterations in bacterial cell membrane composition, as well as their conductivity, loss of respiratory activity, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrosation of cysteines of proteins, lipid peroxidation, DNA unwinding and modulation of metabolic pathways. For the treatment of chronic wounds, extensive research is ongoing to explore a variety of nanoplatforms, including metallic and nonmetallic NPs, nanofibers and self-accumulating nanocarriers. As the use of the magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-entrenched pre-designed hydrogel sheet (MPS) is found to enhance wound healing, the bio-nanocomposites consisting of bacterial cellulose and magnetic nanoparticles (magnetite) are now successfully used for the healing of chronic wounds. With the objective of precise targeting, some kinds of “intelligent” nanoparticles are constructed to react according to the required environment, which are later incorporated in the dressings, so that the wound can be treated with nano-impregnated dressing material in situ. For the effective healing of skin wounds, high-expressing, transiently modified stem cells, controlled by nano 3D architectures, have been developed to encourage angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. In order to overcome the challenge of time and dose constraints during drug administration, the approach of combinatorial nano therapy is adopted, whereby AI will help to exploit the full potential of nanomedicine to treat chronic wounds.

Exploring the efficacy of tryptone-stabilized silver nanoparticles against respiratory tract infection-causing bacteria: a study on planktonic and biofilm forms

“…When employed in a synergistic combination therapy against pathogenic microorganisms, nanoparticles are commonly believed to be effective and safe drugs that can be utilised to boost the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics [76,76]. Silver, gold, and zinc are the most researched metallic NPs, with silver NPs acting as a double-edged sword [77]. The effect of NPsmediated microbe elimination may be microbicidal or microbiostatic, in which the development of bacteria is slowed and metabolic activities are halted, ultimately leading to cell death.…”

The Current Knowledge on the Pathogenesis of Tissue and Medical Device-Related Biofilm Infections

“…Moreover, leading research has been conducted on the effects of phages and their individual proteins on biofilm [ 118 ]. Finally, nanotechnology also provides innovative therapeutic approaches to improve the eradication of BRIs [ 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 ]. However, the combination of these anti-biofilm agents with antibiotics appears to be overall more effective than treatment with either compound alone [ 117 ].…”

A review on contemporary nanomaterial-based therapeutics for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) with special reference to the Indian scenario

“…The nature, state, depth, exudates, healing pace and comorbidities of the wound suggest the appropriate nanoplatform to be applied for infection control, which can possibly change the milieu from non-healing to healing. 15 Some the suitable nanomaterial-based platforms such as organic platforms (nanoemulsions, nano hydrogels, nanoliposomes, and nanobers) and inorganic platforms (metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles) have given a new dimension towards chronic wound healing treatment strategies. In the current scenario, nanomaterial-based diabetic wound healing approaches act as powerful weapons against multi-drug-resistant infections and transdermal nanocarriers and possess intrinsic regenerative properties, nanoscaffolds, and nanotopography to prevent biolm formation, providing Dr Amitava Mukherjee is a Senior Professor and Director at Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India.…”

“…cell-type specicity benets unlike the conventional wound dressings or available therapies. [15][16][17] Teaima et al fabricated polyurethane-modied chitosan nanobers encapsulated with various concentrations of linezolid in a diabetic experimental model. The results illustrated that linezolid promoted diabetic wound healing and control the microbial growth at the wound site.…”

“…In the current scenario, nanomaterial-based diabetic wound healing approaches act as powerful weapons against multi-drug-resistant infections and transdermal nanocarriers and possess intrinsic regenerative properties, nanoscaffolds, and nanotopography to prevent biofilm formation, providing cell-type specificity benefits unlike the conventional wound dressings or available therapies. 15–17…”