Development of Protein-Based Hydrogel Wound Dressing Impregnated With Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex, multi factorial process in which the skin repairs itself after injury. Proper healing of wounds is essential for the restoration of disrupted anatomical continuity and disturbed functional status of the skin. However, this process is delayed or impaired in patients with wound-healing abnormalities. These chronic nonhealing wounds are considered a critical problem in clinical practice. This study aimed to synthesize a biocompatible natural protein-based wound dressing that was able to deliver bioactive molecules for the treatment of difficult-to-treat chronic wounds. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was chosen as a model protein. Dressings were prepared as a hydrogel or gel pad containing 10 μg.mL-1 ciprofloxacin and 10 μM astaxanthin. The dressing was characterized in terms of morphology, absorption and antibiotic release. Antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility and proliferation were investigated. The results revealed that the hydrogel surface had a porous structure. The absorption capacity of the hydrogel increased with an increase in the immersion time and reached equilibrium within 3 d. The BSA hydrogel had activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a log reduction value of 6.19 ± 0.12. At day 1 and 2, 4.24 and 1.31 μg.mL-1 of ciprofloxacin, respectively, were released from the BSA pad and resulted in 6.32 ± 0.16 and 5.08 ± 0.2 log reduction, respectively. A culture of Vero cells with the dressing material indicated that it had no cytotoxicity. Astaxanthin incorporated into both dressings promoted cell proliferation at the highest rate on day 1. These characteristics suggest both dressings had potential for wound healing.