Graphene Oxide–IPDI–Ag/ZnO@Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Nanocomposite Films for Biological Wound-Dressing Applications

Abstract

In this work, we proposed a feasible approach to prepare multifunctional composite films by introducing a nanoscaled filler into a polymer matrix. Specifically, thanks to isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) acting as a coupling agent, the hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) and the hydroxyl groups on the surface of silver-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ag/ZnO) are covalently grafted, forming GO–IPDI–Ag/ZnO (AGO). The prepared AGO was then introduced into the hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix to form AGO@HPC nanocomposite films by solution blending. AGO@HPC nanocomposite films exhibited improved mechanical, anti-ultraviolet, and antibacterial properties. Specifically, a tensile test showed that the tensile strength of the prepared AGO@HPC nanocomposite film with the addition of as low as 0.5 wt % AGO was increased by about 16.2% compared with that of the pure HPC film. In addition, AGO@HPC nanocomposite films showed a strong ultraviolet resistance and could effectively inactivate both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria at a low loading of AGO, and rapid sterilization plays a crucial role in wound-healing. In vivo results show that the AGO@HPC release of Ag+ and Zn2+ stimulates the immune function to produce a large number of white blood cells and neutrophils, thereby producing the synergistic antibacterial effects and accelerated wound-healing. Therefore, our results suggest that these novel AGO@HPC nanocomposite films with improved mechanical, anti-ultraviolet, and antibacterial properties could be promising candidates for antibacterial packaging, biological wound-dressing, etc. The abuse of antibiotics has brought about serious drug-resistant bacteria, and our nanofilm antibacterial does not entail such problems. In addition, local administration reduces the possibility of changing the body’s immune system and organ toxicity, which greatly increases the safety.

Applications of Nanocellulose/Nanocarbon Composites: Focus on Biotechnology and Medicine

“…The inclusion of GO improved the attachment and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in cultures on the composites [108]. Similarly, hydroxypropyl cellulose matrix incorporated with GO and silver-coated ZnO nanoparticles showed improved tensile strength, and also anti-ultraviolet, antibacterial and immunostimulatory effects, which promoted wound healing in an in vivo mouse model [109].…”

“…General cell biocompatibility [68,69,87]; bone TE [37,59]; neural TE [105]; vascular TE [107] Neural tissue engineering [51]; TE in general [117] Wound dressing/healing Polysaccharides/fullerene C 60 derivatives [118] Human dermal fibroblasts in vitro [108]; mouse model in vivo [109] L929 fibroblasts in vitro [58,62]; HeLa cells in vitro, wound dressings delivering doxorubicin [97] Activated carbon: antibacterial wound dressing [30] This review summarizes recent knowledge on the types, properties and applications of nanocellulose/nanocarbon-based hybrid materials, particularly in biotechnology, biomedicine and tissue engineering, and reports on the experience acquired by our group.…”

“…They also promoted the growth of vascular endothelial cells, enhanced angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in a chick chorioallantoic membrane model [107], and improved cardiac conduction when applied to surgically disrupted myocardium in dogs [52]. In addition, these materials supported the growth of human dermal fibroblasts [108] and mouse subcutaneous L929 fibroblasts [58,62], promoted wound healing in vivo in mice [109] and showed an antibacterial effect [30]. These materials are therefore promising for bone, neural and vascular tissue engineering, for creating cardiac patches and for advanced wound dressings.…”

Application of Electrospinning in Antibacterial Field

“…Increasing the amount of these carbon-based nanomaterials can effectively enhance the antibacterial activity of the nanofibers without changing their morphology [ 34 , 96 ]. At the same time, the antibacterial activity of carbon nanomaterials can be further improved by introducing heteroatoms or metal/metal oxide nanoparticles [ 97 ].…”

Silver Micro-Nanoparticle-Based Nanoarchitectures: Synthesis Routes, Biomedical Applications, and Mechanisms of Action

“…Microbial infection becomes a serious complication when it occurs in burn and wound sites [139][140][141][142][143]. In this context, Ag NPs/Ag NP-based composites play an essential role in wound healing/dressing applications [139][140][141][142][143].…”