Hydrogel and membrane scaffold formulations of Frutalin (breadfruit lectin) within a polysaccharide galactomannan matrix have potential for wound healing

Abstract

Plant lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins, which can interact with cell surfaces to initiate both inflammatory and antiinflammatory pathways, as well as immunomodulatory functions. Here, we extracted, purified and part-characterized the bioactivity of four seed lectins, Jacalin, Frutalin, DAL and PNA, before evaluating their potential for wound healing in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Only Frutalin stimulated fibroblast migration in vitro, prompting further studies which established its low cytotoxicity (unaffected fibroblast viability at ≤1 mg/mL) and interaction with TLR-4 receptors. The lectin also increased pERK expression, a marker of fibroblast proliferation, and stimulated IL-6 secretion. The in vivo potential of Frutalin for wound healing was then assessed in hybrid combination with the polysaccharide galactomannan, purified from Caesalpinia pulcherrima seeds, using both hydrogel formulations and membrane scaffolds (lyophilized hydrogel). Physicalchemical characterization of the hybrid showed that lectin-galactomannan interactions increased the pseudoplastic behaviour of solutions, reducing viscosity and increasing Frutalin's concentration. Furthermore, infrared spectroscopy revealed-OH band displacement (from 3350 to 3595 cm-1), likely caused by interaction of Frutalin with galactose residues present on galactomannan chains, while average membrane porosity was 100 μm, sufficient to ensure water vapor permeability. The healing activities of each hybrid material at three different Frutalin to galactomannan ratios were then tested in a surgical mouse model of cutaneous excisional wound repair. Accelerated angiogenesis and increased fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation were observed with the optimal hybrid recovering the lesioned area after 11 days. Our findings indicate Frutalin as a biomolecule with potential for tissue repair, regeneration and chronic wound healing.

130 years of Plant Lectin Research

“…4). Multiple reports have documented that plant lectins have mitogenic or apoptotic effects, can activate or suppress inflammation, inhibit the growth of tumors, interfere with infection of pathogens, viruses and parasites, or facilitate wound healing [118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137].…”

Polysaccharide-Based Formulations for Healing of Skin-Related Wound Infections: Lessons from Animal Models and Clinical Trials

“…Studies involving the use of polysaccharide as membranes, gels, and hydrogels have already been developed for important and different purposes. In the pharmaceutical field, for example, polysaccharide-based membranes have been developed as wound dressings for healing treatments due to their characteristics of biomolecule immobilization, controlled release, and adhesion [52][53][54]. In addition to have healing actions per se, these polysaccharide formulations can act as transdermal drug delivery systems, controlling the release of active ingredients [55][56][57][58][59].…”

Extraction kinetic model of polysaccharide from Codonopsis pilosula and the application of polysaccharide in wound healing

“…As described above, the Polysaccharide from C. pilosula possessed the function of immune regulation, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, Hence, the Polysaccharide have great potential in treating wound healing. Chitosan, a good bioactivities material with antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity [12,15], has been widely applied in to the wound healing [18]. In this study, a new microcapsules of Codonopsis polysaccharide/sodium alginate-calcium chloride-chitosan were prepared for accelerate wound healing (scheme 1).…”