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Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were fabricated using the solvent casting and particulate leaching techniques, using sodium chloride (NaCl) particles ranging in size from 425 to 450 µm, as the porogen. Curcuma comosaextract (CC) utilized in this study has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-atherosclerotic, and estrogenic properties that benefit both skin and bone tissues. PCL scaffolds were immersed in a CC solution to create CC-loaded scaffolds. The PCL to NaCl weight ratios varied between 1:8, 1:10, and 1:12, while the concentration of CC was either 0.5 or 1.0 mg/mL. Based on the findings, the pore diameters of the neat and CC-loaded PCL scaffolds ranged from 280 to 332 µm. Increasing NaCl content resulted in the scaffolds being more porous, thus having low compressive moduli and releasing high amounts of CC. Both water retention and weight loss of the scaffolds increased with an increasing submersion time in a buffer solution. These scaffolds released no substances that were detrimental to both mouse fibroblast (NCTC clone 929) and mouse osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells. While the presence of CC in the PCL scaffolds showed no significant effect on the attachment of MC3T3-E1 cells, it significantly supported their proliferation. All these suggested that the CC-loaded PCL scaffolds could be used as cartilage scaffolding materials.

Efforts to develop versatile tissue-engineered scaffolds mimicking the functions of extracellular matrices (ECMs) have led to the emergence of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) as promising materials. Here, thiol-acrylate-based LCEs forming a nematic phase upon UV irradiation were synthesized, and their biological compatibility was evaluated using C2C12 myoblast cells. Prior to UV exposure, some characteristics, e.g., phase transition temperature (TNI), order parameter, and reaction time, of the as-synthesized LCEs are characterized for property optimization. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that thiol-acrylate Michael addition polymerization was successful, judged by the disappearance of the characteristic peaks of thiol and acrylate groups. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis curves showed TNIvalues at ca. 49 °C, at which point the nematic phase is the dominant morphology. Moreover, the cross-linking density, the fixing, and the recovery ratios for the sample with optimal properties (i.e., LCE3) were determined to be 10.3 mol/cm3, 97.2 % and 91 %, respectively. Assessment of mesomorphism and roughness demonstrated the suitability of LCE3 for cell culture. Subsequent studies on adhesion, viability, differentiation, and proliferation of cultured myoblast cells, coupled with particle image velocimetry simulation, highlighted the potential of UV-irradiated LCE3 as a promising scaffold material for inducing surface morphology-induced cellular alignment and interactions.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer having unique physical and mechanical properties that widen its usefulness in a diverse range of applications. To be used as a wound dressing however, it lacks natural ability to fight against bacterial infection. To widen its usage as an active wound dressing, BC was incorporated with sodium alginate (AG), chitosan (CS), and copper sulfate (Cu), with an aim of imparting a microstatic or an antimicrobial activity. The structure and properties of the obtained BC/AG/CS-Cu composites were systematically studied. These properties include weight fraction, tensile strength, swelling ratio, and release characteristics of Cu. The obtained BC/AG/CS-Cu composites exhibited antibacterial properties against both gram-positive Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli(E.coli). Moreover, an indirect cytotoxicity test was used to evaluate whether the obtained composites were safe to use in contact with living cells L929 mouse fibroblasts and human dermal fibroblasts. All the results obtained in this work showed that the obtained composites were promising materials to be used as an antimicrobial wound dressing.

The aim of this research study was to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles as antibacterial materials capable of supporting the treatment of infected pressure ulcers. Either 6.25 mg, 39 mg, or 244 mg of CIP was loaded onto PLGA nanoparticles by using the double emulsion technique. The morphology of the resulting CIP-loaded PLGA nanoparticles was spherical, and the mean diameters were approximately 625.3–957.9 nm. Later, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels loaded with CIP/PLGA nanoparticles were prepared and crosslinked with gamma radiation. The greatest cumulative quantities released from the CIP/PLGA-loaded PVA hydrogels containing 6.25 mg, 39 mg, and 244 mg CIP were 43.38%, 79.75% and 94.63%, respectively. The CIP/PLGA nanoparticles and CIP/PLGA-loaded PVA hydrogels were observed to provide an effective antimicrobial response when exposed to Escherichia coliand Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the performance in terms of cell viability had no adverse influence upon the absence of cytotoxicity, as indicated in tests carried out using normal adult human fibroblast cells. It was thus concluded that the CIP/PLGA-loaded hydrogels may be considered as potentially beneficial materials for application in wound dressings with antibacterial properties.

In this study, we developed a poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) spray-on film containing mangosteen extract (MG/PVAc film) as a bioactive wound dressing. The 2% w/v of PVAc film was prepared by dissolution with ethyl acetate: ethanol: propanol in a ratio of 30:50:20. On this basis, mangosteen extract at 1%, 2% and 3% w/v was selected for further inclusion in a PVAc film, with good antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the measurement of drug release from the MG/PVAc film, antibacterial activity, and in vitrobiocompatibility was assessed in L929 mouse fibroblasts, keratinocyte (HaCat) cells and normal human fibroblasts (NHFs). The cumulative release of mangosteen extract was found to be 30.30–48.80% of the total load after 60 h in an acetate buffer solution and 41.13–49.96% in a phosphate buffer solution. A higher concentration of mangosteen extract added into the PVAc film led to a greater drug release. The combination of mangosteen extract (MG) was shown to improve the antimicrobial efficacy compared to that of the control. The cytotoxicity evaluation showed that the MG/PVAc films did not interfere with the cells and were non-cytotoxic. Based on our results, we suggest that a MG/PVAc film spray can serve as an antibacterial wound dressing.

In the treatment of chronic wounds, pressure ulcers become a particular challenge. The principal aims of treatment are typically to prevent infection while allowing the wound to heal. This study therefore sought to prepare the hydrogel pads based on silver nanoparticles. To be effective as a wound dressing, the gel fraction, mechanical properties, and swelling capacity of the proposed material must be suitable, and it was found that PVP/alginate/chitosan in the ratio of 10:1.2:1.8 showed the required properties. Furthermore, the silver nanoparticles-based hydrogel was also found to offer antibacterial properties and an absence of cytotoxicity when tested towards human keratinocytes (HaCaT), L929 mouse fibroblasts, and human dermal fibroblasts adult (HDFa). The proposed material was then compared with commercially available dressings (ACTICOAT™, Algivon®, and Suprasorb®A + Ag) with findings showing the superiority of the proposed hydrogel in terms of reduced cost, non-cytotoxicity, and swelling, while the ability to reduce bacteria was shown to be equal to that of the commercial alternatives. Therefore, it can be concluded that silver nanoparticle-based hydrogel offers considerable potential to relieve pressure ulcers through its application as a wound dressing.

In this study, a novel biosensor was produced from a carbonized gold (Au)/graphene (G) hybrid nanowire fabricated on a disposable screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) in order to amplify signals. The processes of carbonization and electrospinning were merged in order to determine dopamine (DA) in a selective and sensitive manner when it is present in uric acid (UA) or ascorbic acid (AA). In order to assess the nature of the surface morphology and the physical product properties, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were employed prior to and following the carbonization step. The modified electrode (CPAN-Au/G) in [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−and DA was examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in order to establish the electrochemical behavior. The findings from this test revealed that the modified electrode was capable of selectively identifying DA in 0.1 M PBS at pH 7.4 when other substances were present to provide interference. This process did not require the use of an anionic surfactant to serve as the discriminating agent. From the analysis of the DPV current, a linear dependence upon DA concentrations became apparent, in the range of 0.001–60 μM when the detection limit was 0.8 nM (S/N = 3) and sensitivity was 1.4351 μA cm−2. DA quantities in human serum could be effectively detected using the CPAN-Au/G electrode, and the modified electrode raises considerable expectations for application as a high-potential electrode. This would permit the determination of DA in a selective and sensitive manner while achieving sensor stability over the long term.

In the present study an antimicrobial wound dressing incorporating the fruit hull of Garcinia mangostana(MT) extracts into sodium alginate (AG)-coated gauze was developed. The effects of varying concentrations of AG on AG-coated gauze samples were studied in terms of swelling ratio, moist environment and blood coagulation properties. Furthermore, measurement of drug release from the AG-MT gauze, antibacterial activity, and in vitrobiocompatibility in keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) was assessed. With increasing AG concentration, the AG-gauze showed a higher swelling ratio, briefer moist environment as well as lower blood coagulation results. Compared with other formulations, AG-gauze with 0.5% w/w of AG was selected for incorporation with MT extract. The combination of MT extract was shown to improve antimicrobial efficacy in comparison with the control. The cumulative release of MT extract was found to be 50–55% of the total load after 90 h in an acetate buffer solution and 80–95% in a phosphate buffer solution. An in vitrocytotoxic test showed that 0.01 and 0.02% w/w MT extract loaded AG-gauze were not toxic to HaCaT and HDFa cells. Thus, AG-coated gauze containing MT extract could be a promising candidate for use in wound care.