Rapid and effective hemostasis for unknown bleeding points and irregularly shaped wounds is very important. Here, water-soluble quaternized chitin (QC2) with relatively low hemolysis ratio was synthesized homogeneously in NaOH/urea aqueous solution. Then a novel self-gelling hemostatic powder was prepared based on QC2 and sodium hyaluronate (HA) through simply mixing the QC2 aqueous solution with HA aqueous solution, freeze-drying and grinding. The obtained QC2/HA powder can quickly transform into a gel via electrostatic interaction after absorbing blood, and adhere to the wound surface, concentrating blood cells and platelets to trigger coagulation and preventing blood loss. The QC2/HA powder could adhere to wet tissue after absorbing interfacial water showing good tissue adhesion property and good coagulation effect in vitro, which are important for effective hemostatic materials. The formed QC2/HA hydrogel displayed good self-healing feature due to the reversible electrostatic interaction, and good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Moreover, in the rat tail and rat liver models, the QC22.5/HA1 self-gelling powder showed much better hemostatic effect than the blank control and the traditional hemostatic chitosan. Therefore, we believe that the QC22.5/HA1 powder has great potential as a new biodegradable hemostatic material in the future.
Chemical and physically crosslinked hydrogels, as pharmaceutical carrier compounds with antibacterial and sustained release features, hold high potential for clinical uses. In this study, synthesized biodegradable tetracycline drug-loaded hydrogels were used to treat bacterial infections with the aim of controlling systemic side effects and slow release in order to provide an effective antibacterial delivery system to progress patient adherence by declining the repetition of prescribed drugs. Sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose were solved in water, and after complete solvation of the polymer, adipic acid dihydrazide as a cross-linker was added to the polymer solution to afford chemically crosslinked hydrogel. The produced hydrogel was purified by the dialysis bag. FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectra identified the presence of an amide group. Surface examination of hydrogel showed a soft texture with a porous structure. Chemical tetracycline drug-loaded hydrogel showed slow-release tetracycline and better antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli strains. Chemical tetracycline drug-loaded hydrogel was slower to release than physical tetracycline drug-loaded hydrogel against bacterial strains. Furthermore, feed-forward input propagation was employed to assess the effect of the time on drug released as response. It confirmed that the prognostic capability of training algorithms is in the order of Levenberg Marquardt (LM) > Bayesian Regularization (BR) > Gradient Descent (GD) for chemically crosslinked hydrogels and GD > BR > LM for physically crosslinked hydrogels. The findings clearly established manufactured hydrogel as an attractive candidate for effective drug delivery while also paving the way for extended delivery systems in other biomedical applications.
Bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) and adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) are both multipotent with therapeutic potential. In this study, a study for bone tissue engineering was performed using both cell types on three-dimensional (3D) bacterial nanocellulose-chitosan-gelatin-hydroxyapatite (BNC-CS-GT-HAp) scaffolds compared to other bacterial nanocellulose-based scaffolds. BM-MSCs and AD-MSCs show superior potential for osteogenic differentiation, mineralization and extracellular matrix formation on BNC-CS-GT-HAp scaffolds. However, compared with AD-MSCs, BM-MSCs demonstrate greater cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, evidenced by higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineral deposition and osteogenic gene expression over 28 days of cultivation. Further investigation of BM-MSCs for a long-term cultivation of 56 days showed extensive bone matrix formation, persistent ECM and mineral deposition, and enhanced scaffold mechanical reinforcement. Under the cultivation of BM-MSCs on BNC-CS-GT-HAp for 56 days, the production of collagen increased to 4.89%wt/wt and the compressive strength increased to 283 MPa. This indicates the potential of BM-MSCs for osteogenic differentiation and bone regeneration, even after extended periods in vitro. The results demonstrate the potential of BNC-CS-GT-HAp scaffolds as a promising candidate for in vivo bone regeneration applications.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin secretion and/or action. A severe complication is delayed wound healing, particularly diabetic foot ulcers, associated with defective angiogenesis, neuropathy, persistent inflammation, and increased infection risk. Biodegradable, biocompatible biomaterials have gained attention as advanced platforms for tissue regeneration. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), microbial-derived biopolymers, are promising for wound healing. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of PHAs derived from high-rate algal pond (HRAP) microalgae using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. HRAP microalgal biomass was used for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) extraction via solvent precipitation. Purified PHB was blended with polycaprolactone (PCL) to fabricate electrospun nanofiber scaffolds containing different algal extract concentrations (PHB-1, PHB-2, PHB-3). Structural characterization was performed by NMR and GC-MS. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a high-fat diet followed by STZ (30 mg/kg). Full-thickness excisional wounds were created and topically treated for 12 days. Wound healing progression was assessed by wound contraction, histopathology, and qRT-PCR analysis of IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-1. GC-MS confirmed hydroxyalkanoate monomers, validating PHB biosynthesis. Scanning electron microscopy showed uniform, well-defined nanofiber morphology. PHB-based scaffolds significantly accelerated wound closure compared with untreated diabetic controls. Histology revealed enhanced re-epithelialization, dermal regeneration, reduced inflammatory infiltration, and reappearance of hair follicles. Gene expression analysis showed anti-inflammatory effects, with IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-1 reduced by 67.99%, 74.01%, and 59.60%, respectively. PHB-based nanofiber scaffolds improved diabetic wound healing through combined regenerative and anti-inflammatory actions, supporting sustainable PHB as a promising biomaterial for advanced wound dressings.
Wound healing is a dynamic and tightly regulated biological phenomenon involving coordinated cellular and molecular events essential for tissue repair and regeneration. Conventional wound dressings possess limited bioactivity, antibacterial properties, and structural characteristics that facilitate efficient healing, thereby necessitating advanced wound care strategies. Hence, the main objective of this study is to develop a novel nanofiber-based wound dressing by incorporating 4-methoxycinnamic acid (MCA), a natural bioactive compound, into polycaprolactone nanofibers. To further enhance the biocompatibility, interfacial adhesion, and surface bioactivity, the MCA-loaded nanofibers were surface functionalized using a layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly of polydopamine and gelatin, forming a bioactive surface coating enriched with MCA. Comprehensive physicochemical and morphological analyses confirmed that MCA incorporation preserved the structural integrity without any significant alterations in the surface wettability, protein adsorption, or degradation profiles. Furthermore, in vitro biocompatibility was assessed using fibroblast cells, which exhibited favorable cell attachment, proliferation, and migration. Additionally, the dual-loaded LBL nanofibers effectively increased antioxidant activity and enhanced the expression of wound healing-related angiogenic, fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory genes. The fabricated nanofibers also exhibited potent antibacterial activity, with enhanced efficacy. Overall, the incorporation of MCA in both the nanofibrous matrix and adhesive-inspired surface coating shows enhanced angiogenic and regenerative potential and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, suggesting its potential application as a multifunctional wound dressing for infection-prone and hard-to-heal wounds.
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection associated with endothelial activation, neuroinflammation, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). While curcumin (Cur) possesses antiplasmodial and anti-inflammatory properties, its therapeutic potential is limited by poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and insufficient brain bioavailability. In this study, we hypothesized that polysaccharide-driven surface engineering could regulate nanoparticles (NPs) interfacial properties to improve BBB compatibility and antiplasmodial efficacy. Cur-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) NPs were fabricated through a single-emulsion solvent evaporation technique and sequentially coated with chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) to establish defined structure-property relationships. The resulting nanoformulations were characterized for particle size, surface charge, polysaccharide deposition, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and release kinetics. In-vitro biological performance was evaluated through hemocompatibility, brain endothelial cell viability, BBB integrity through transendothelial electrical resistance measurements, and in-vitro antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum FCR3. Dual polysaccharide coating produced stable NPs with controlled size, enhanced surface charge, sustained Cur release, and significantly improved endothelial compatibility compared with free Cur and non-hyaluronic-acid formulations. Notably, HA coating strengthened BBB integrity and enhanced antiplasmodial potency. These findings demonstrate that CS- HA surface functionalization governs critical structure-property relationships, highlighting the potential of polysaccharide-engineered nanocarriers for adjunctive CM drug delivery.
The shortage of skin grafts remains a key challenge in the repair of full-thickness skin defects, highlighting the urgent need for suitable 3D-bioprinted skin substitutes. Although various hydrogel bioinks have been developed for skin tissue engineering, few can simultaneously satisfy printability, appropriate mechanical properties, matched degradation, no immune rejection, and favorable biological activity. In this study, we developed and systematically optimized a PRP/SVF-gel composite bioink for skin bioprinting. Characterization results showed that the bioink presented obvious shear-thinning behavior and excellent printability, with adjustable swelling, degradation, and mechanical properties regulated by SVF-gel content. The optimized hydrogel possessed interconnected porous structure suitable for cell growth, high cytocompatibility, and matched degradation kinetics with skin wound healing. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the scaffold significantly accelerated wound closure and epithelialization, promoted angiogenesis, remodeled collagen distribution close to normal skin, and effectively inhibited scar formation, achieving high-quality skin regeneration. This multifunctional PRP/SVF-gel bioink achieves balanced mechanical and biological performance, showing great potential for clinical skin bioprinting and promising application value in traumatic wound repair, burn treatment.
A new chitosan-based Schiff base derivative of CS-3NA was synthesized by condensing chitosan with salicylaldoxime and 3-nitroaniline. The structural resonances were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV,1H, and 13C NMR analyses. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry provided evidence for the existence of aromatic fragments associated with the synthesized derivative, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated purity of 93.19% for the extracted molecule. The UV-vis spectrum exhibited absorption bands at 224.85 and 283.55 nm, corresponding to n→π* and imine transitions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed two main degradation stages and thermal stability up to 160 °C. The activation energy of thermal decomposition was calculated using the Arrhenius method (Ea = 179.9 kJ mol-1), indicating enhanced thermal stability compared to native chitosan. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluated using the MTT assay against MCF-7 breast cancer cells showed dose-dependent inhibition, with an IC50 value of 76.03 µg mL-1 after 24 h incubation. The results demonstrate that the structural modification of chitosan with salicylaldoxime and 3-nitroaniline produces a derivative with improved physicochemical properties and promising biological activity.
Artificial small-diameter vascular grafts (sdVGs) offer a promising alternative to autologous vessels. However, suboptimal wall architecture and mechanical mismatch can lead to complications. The modular mold-assisted stepwise lyophilization was introduced to precisely control the length, inner diameter, wall thickness, and layer configuration for fabricating multi-layer sdVGs. The artificial sdVGs were fabricated from biodegradable PU1 and biostable PU2 via stepwise lyophilization in custom molds, enabling precise control over wall layers and dimensions. The grafts were characterized for microstructure, mechanical properties, and cytotoxicity. The stepwise-lyophilized sdVGs exhibited well-integrated layers, solvent-free structures, and precise dimensional control. As the solid content of polymer solution increasing, the porosity, average pore size, and large pore proportion of the artificial sdVGs decreased, while the mechanical strength correspondingly increased. The effects of mixed solvents on pore architectures and mechanical properties varied significantly depending on the mixing ratio, but there was no clear pattern. Additionally, differences in solvent polarity may lead to the delamination of the wall of multi-layer sdVGs. With the decrease of freezing temperature, the porosity and average pore size of the artificial sdVGs also declined, but the mechanical performance did not always correlate with the pore architecture, allowing for better mechanical properties even at larger pore sizes. The stepwise lyophilization enables the customization of artificial sdVGs with tunable structural, and mechanical and biological properties, providing a framework for the fabrication of biomimetic and biosafe sdVGs.
Biopolymer-based wound dressings offer a sustainable platform for developing multifunctional films with improved moisture regulation, biocompatibility, and protection against microbial contamination. In this study, nanocomposite films were formulated using HPMC, chemically modified starch, and ZnO nanoparticles, with two biodegradable plasticizers (glycerol (H1) and PEG (H2)) incorporated as plasticisers to modulate film performance. The modified starch exhibited increased amylose content (46.80 ± 1.80%) and resistant starch level (36.20 ± 2.10%), while ZnO-NPs showed a hydrodynamic size of ∼95 nm and a zeta potential of -38.44 mV, confirming good colloidal stability. PEG-plasticized films demonstrated the highest hydration capacity (618.42 ± 12.56%), lowest matrix erosion (328.44 ± 14.68%), and superior optical clarity (58.24 ± 2.15%). FTIR confirmed polymer-nanoparticle interactions, XRD verified crystallinity changes, and FESEM/AFM showed uniform nanoparticle dispersion. DSC analysis indicated improved thermal stability for H1 (92.61 ± 0.19 °C) and H2 (88.96 ± 0.21 °C). Mechanical testing revealed the highest tensile strength in H2 (12.0 ± 1.0 MPa), increasing after hydration (13 ± 2.0 MPa) with a strain of 60-64%. PEG-plasticized films also exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity with low IC50 values and produced inhibition zones of 14.8 ± 1.0 mm (E. coli) and 16.0 ± 0.9 mm (S. aureus). High HaCaT viability (135.33 ± 3.11%, 24 h) confirms their wound-dressing potential.
The performance of extrusion-based 3D bioprinting depends critically on the rheology of bioinks, which must balance printability with post-deposition structural fidelity. Here we present a statistically optimised, human-compatible hydrogel formulation (hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate, Dextran-40), originally identified via Design of Experiment (DoE) methodology for target viscosity, and now subjected to comprehensive rheological validation. Flow curve analysis confirms the bioink's shear-thinning profile, supporting its suitability for extrusion. Oscillatory amplitude and frequency sweep tests reveal a stable viscoelastic response within the linear viscoelastic region. In combination with pronounced shear-thinning behaviour and rapid thixotropic recovery, this supports the bioink's ability to maintain structural integrity following deposition. A three-stage thixotropy test demonstrates rapid viscosity recovery following high shear, while temperature ramp testing shows expected increases in viscosity as temperature decreases, with no gelation observed in the printing-relevant range. Collectively, these findings validate the formulation's suitability for cell-laden printing applications and offer a reproducible rheological benchmark for future bioink development in soft tissue engineering.
Natural polymeric hydrogels based on silk fibroin (SF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) offer promising biocompatible platforms for wound dressings, however, their clinical applications are limited by inadequate mechanical strength and a lack of multifunctionality. To overcome these limitations, we developed a dual-functionalized SF/HA hydrogel by incorporating quercetin (Q) as an antioxidant enhancer and tannic acid (TA) as a simultaneous mechanical reinforcement and antibacterial agent. The resulting SF/HA-QTA hydrogel exhibited exceptional multifunctionality in vitro, demonstrating potent free radical scavenging (>90%), exceptional bactericidal efficacy (>99% against E. coli and S. aureus), and rapid hemostatic performance (60% reduction in coagulation time; 22% blood clotting index within 5 min). Biocompatibility assessments confirmed high hemocompatibility (hemolysis rate <5%) and cytocompatibility (cell viability >80%), emphasizing its in vitro safety profile. This innovative design integrates quercetin delivery with TA-mediated crosslinking, creating a multifunctional wound dressing platform that synergistically combines rapid hemostatic action, potent antimicrobial/antioxidant functions, and tissue-friendly characteristics, showing favorable potential for in vitro wound management.
Homeostasis of inflammation and redox are highly regulated sequelae of pathological processes for healthy systemic function. Any disturbance in this system would result in the development of adverse conditions leading to chronic diseases such as cancers. Cervical cancers are caused due to persistent infection and inflammation. Herein, the bioavailability of plumbagin was enhanced with a polymeric coat of PLA and chitosan and tested on LPS-induced inflammation in cervical cancer SiHa cells and identified its efficacy in mitigating the inflammation induced pathologies.The fabricated nanoformulation due to chitosan and plumbagin exhibited good physicochemical characteristics with optimal size, shape, charge homogeneity, and excellent cytotoxic potential, for targeted drug delivery. The nanoformulation inhibited protein denaturation with an IC50 of 178 µg/mL and 24.2 µg/mL in BSA and egg albumin denaturation assay, respectively, confirming its anti-inflammatory activity. It also restored the membrane integrity (72%) on membrane lysis assay. Further, the downregulation of the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, and MCP1) and the inflammatory protein NFκB on LPS-induced SiHa cells confirms the anti-inflammatory potential. A mechanistic investigation of the nanoformulation also modulates oxidative stress mediated by ROS generation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential leading to apoptosis. Our findings demonstrate that the plumbagin-loaded chitosan nanoformulation possesses excellent anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxic potential, which can be utilized as potential chemotherapeutics.
Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) are fibrotic bands that form within the uterine cavity as a result of aberrant basal-endometrium repair following trauma or infection. Although several treatment modalities are available, recurrent adhesion remains frequent, and no preventive strategy has proven consistently reliable. In this work, we developed a β-Glycerophosphate-Chitosan/Sodium Alginate (β-GP-CS/SA) thermosensitive hydrogel incorporating aspirin (ASA) as a model anti-inflammatory compound. When exposed to physiological temperature (37 °C), the sol underwent gelation within approximately 5 min, forming an elastic gel (≈11.2 kPa) with an interconnected porous microarchitecture. The material underwent progressive biodegradation, losing nearly 87% of its mass in 14 days, while releasing about 60% of its ASA content in a sustained manner, indicating a release mechanism governed not solely by matrix erosion but also by diffusion and drug-polymer interactions. In vitro studies confirmed minimal cytotoxicity, suppression of fibrogenic markers (Collagen I and α-SMA), enhancement of VEGF expression, and promotion of stromal-cell migration. In vivo, implantation of the ASA-loaded gel markedly attenuated adhesion formation, preserved endometrial morphology, reduced stromal fibrosis, and produced no hepatic or renal lesions. These findings identify a biodegradable and thermoresponsive hydrogel that unites physical isolation with prolonged anti-inflammatory and regenerative actions, providing a rational basis for clinical prevention of IUAs.
The use of thermoresponsive injectable depots that undergo in situ sol-gel transition at physiological temperature represents an attractive strategy for sustained parenteral drug delivery. In the present study, a thermoresponsive injectable depot of nalbuphine hydrochloride, a short-acting opioid analgesic requiring frequent dosing, was developed and optimized via a quality by design (QbD) approach to achieve controlled gelation, injectability, and sustained analgesic release. Poloxamer 407, poloxamer 188, and chitosan were employed as formulation components, and a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design (17 runs) was used to optimize their concentrations with respect to gelation temperature, gelation time, and viscosity. The optimized formulation exhibited a sol-gel transition temperature of 35.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C, a gelation time of 97 +/- 3 s, and a viscosity of 4200 +/- 510 cP at 37 degrees C, confirming rapid in situ gel formation while maintaining syringeability at room temperature. Injectability evaluation via a universal testing machine demonstrated acceptable extrusion forces through a 21 G needle (maximum force 16.98 +/- 0.95 N). In vitro degradation studies revealed progressive enzymatic biodegradation over five days, supporting depot erosion under physiological conditions. Drug release studies revealed a sustained release of approximately 82% over 24 h without an initial burst effect, and kinetic analysis indicated anomalous diffusion-controlled release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R2 = 0.9958; n = 0.61). Stability studies conducted for three months under refrigerated and room temperature conditions confirmed the maintenance of critical quality attributes. Overall, the QbD-optimized thermoresponsive injectable depot demonstrates robust physicochemical performance and represents a promising platform for sustained parenteral analgesic delivery, warranting further in vivo validation.
Decellularized bovine and porcine pericardia are the most extensively used biological substitutes in clinical settings as self-regenerating replacements for treating cardiovascular anomalies. Despite advancements, these substitutes undergo early deterioration and degeneration if not crosslinked. The chemical crosslinking of these scaffolds, aimed at addressing their weak mechanical strength, hinders their long-term performance and regenerative efficacy. The present method describes the systematic evaluation of an alkaline-catalyzed, low-temperature mediated citric acid crosslinking strategy to incorporate silk fibroin (SF) for enhancing the biomechanical properties and stability of decellularized porcine pericardia (DPP) . Decellularization was performed using the tridecyl alcohol (ATE) method. Silk fibroin reinforced porcine pericardium (SFDPP) was systematically analyzed for successful incorporation of SF using histology, Confocal Raman microscopy, and SEM. Thermal analysis, biomechanical properties, suturability, and resistance to collagenase degradation has demonstrated increased strength and durability. In vitro cytocompatibility and toxicological studies further confirmed that SFDPP is biocompatible and non-toxic, making it suitable for cardiovascular applications. Rat subcutaneous implantation has proven SFDPP to be associated with significantly reduced inflammation and mineralization compared to the commercially available SJM Biocor pericardial patch. Results from rat abdominal wall defect and pig aortic vascular defect models demonstrated that SFDPP patch promoted structural restoration by site-appropriate constructive remodelling in both the defects. All these evidences confirmed its efficacy as a potential patch for treating cardiovascular defects.
Current barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration (GBR) are often limited by insufficient bioactivity, poor mechanical toughness, and uncontrolled degradation rates. To overcome these challenges, we developed a novel functionalized nanofibrous membrane with a core-shell structure via coaxial electrospinning. The membrane comprises a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/polycaprolactone (PLGA/PCL) shell to ensure structural integrity and a gelatin (Gel) core loaded with astragaloside IV (AS) to enhance water retention capacity and bioactivity. Physically, the incorporation of the Gel core significantly enhanced the mechanical toughness of the scaffold, imparting ductile behavior to the membrane, while maintaining a controlled degradation profile and stable swelling capacity suitable for space maintenance. Biologically, the membrane effectively prevented fibroblast infiltration, fulfilling the critical barrier function. Furthermore, in vitro evaluations with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) demonstrated that AS-loaded membrane significantly promoted cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Notably, the 2.5% AS concentration was identified as the optimal formulation, eliciting the most robust upregulation of osteogenic genes (Runx2, Col-1, ALP, OPN, and OCN) and the angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF), as well as maximizing extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. Collectively, this study presents a dual-functional GBR membrane that combines enhanced mechanical handling properties and demonstrates bioactivity associated with AS incorporation, offering a promising strategy for repairing critical-sized bone defects.
Tympanic membrane perforation is a common condition that can lead to hearing loss and recurrent infections. Though acute perforations heal spontaneously, chronic perforations require surgical intervention to restore membrane function. Current therapeutic techniques require surgery under anaesthesia and necessitate an incision for collecting graft material when autologous tissue is employed. Therefore, it is essential to find a safer, cost-effective alternative to tympanic membrane perforation treatment that uses non-surgical procedures. This work aims to fabricate a novel, biocompatible, non-degradable, bio-adhesive, and cost-effective scaffold for the treatment of tympanic membrane perforations that mimics the structural and mechanical properties of the native tympanic membrane. Two biocompatible polymers, namely polycarbonate urethane and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), were used as the base materials, and electrospinning was employed as the fabrication technique. The optimised electrospun membrane exhibits a tensile strength of 20.7 ± 3.5 MPa, which falls within the required range of a normal human tympanic membrane. Data from Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) analysis indicate better sound transmission for the developed membrane compared to the control. Its optimum water vapour transmission rate can provide an ideal environment for wound healing. In vitro cell-material interaction studies using mouse fibroblast L929 cells highlight its good biocompatibility and cell-migratory tendency, suggesting potential clinical utilisation.
Novel bioactive composite films based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced with walnut shell powder (WSP) and medicinal plant additives - Lawsonia inermis, Nepeta cataria, and Artemisia vulgaris - were developed using a solution casting method for potential biomedical applications. WSP, a lignocellulosic agricultural waste, was employed as a sustainable reinforcing filler, while the herbal additives were incorporated to impart antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. The structural, morphological, chemical, and thermal characteristics of the composite films were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). XRD analysis revealed the semi-crystalline nature of PVA, with reduced crystallinity upon filler incorporation due to strong intermolecular interactions. FTIR confirmed effective hydrogen bonding between PVA and the bio-fillers, while thermal analyses demonstrated enhanced thermal stability of the composites. Morphological studies showed smooth to porous surface features depending on the herbal additive used. Antibacterial evaluation against Escherichia coli demonstrated significant inhibition, with the Lawsonia inermis-based composite exhibiting the highest antibacterial activity. Biocompatibility assessment using Vigna radiata seed germination indicated low cytotoxicity and favorable biological interaction, particularly for the Lawsonia inermis formulation. The synergistic integration of WSP and herbal additives within the PVA matrix resulted in multifunctional, sustainable, and biocompatible films, highlighting their strong potential for wound healing, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications.
The field of in situ polymer-bioceramic composites represents a novel domain that imparts advancements in bone tissue engineering by its dual angiogenic and osteogenic potential. In this study, we focused on developing an in-situ synthesised collagen-whitlockite (CO-WH) composite for the regeneration and revascularization of small bone defects. The in-situ CO-WH bone filler was prepared in the quantitative ratio of 0.5: 3.6 (i.e. 1:7) of CO: WH. The prepared composite was characterised using TEM, EDAX, XRD, FTIR, TGA and XPS. TEM results indicated the irregular morphology of the in situ CO-WH particles and showed an average particle size of 30 ± 10nm. EDAX and XPS analysis confirmed the presence of the characteristic elements within the composite and while XRD confirmed its crystallinity. FTIR studies confirmed the presence of amine, carboxyl and phosphate functional groups within the developed composite and TGA confirmed its thermal stability upto 900 °C. The ion release was evaluated using ICP analysis, confirming the controlled release of Ca2+, Mg2+, and PO43- ions from the in situ CO-WH composite. The composite was found to be biocompatible in DFSCs. In vitro cell migration and tube formation assays conducted in HUVECs demonstrated the angiogenic potential of the composite. Similarly, in vitro osteogenic mineralization, differentiation and alkaline phosphatase activity of CO-WH were studied, demonstrating enhanced osteogenic property in DFSCs. Therefore, the synthesised CO-WH composite bone filler acts as a promising application in regenerating small bone defects due to its angiogenic and osteogenic properties.
