Multifunctional Casein-Based Wound Dressing Capable of Monitoring and Moderating the Proteolytic Activity of Chronic Wounds

Every 1.2 s, a diabetic foot ulcer is developed, and every 20 s, one amputation is carried out in diabetic patients. Monitoring and controlling protease activity have been considered as a strategy for more efficient management of diabetic and other chronic wounds. This study aimed to develop a casein-based dressing that, by its disappearance, provides information about the activity of proteases and simultaneously harnesses proteolytic activity. Casein films were fabricated by using an aqueous solution, and heat treatment was successfully deployed as a green and clean approach to confer hydrolytic stability. Our results showed that casein-based films' mechanical characteristics, water absorption, and proteolytic stability could be controlled by the length of the heat treatment, which proved to be a useful tool. An increase in the treatment duration from 30 min to 3 h led to toleration of 2.4 times higher stress, 2 times lower water uptake, and 3.4 times higher proteolytic stability at examined conditions. Selected casein-based structures responded to Bacillus sp. bacteria's protease (BSP) and human neutrophil elastase (HNE) as representatives of bacterial and nonbacterial proteases found in the wounds at 10 and 200 ng mL(-1) levels, respectively. The hydrolysis was accompanied by a 36% reduction in proteolytic activity measured by using a casein-based universal protease activity assay. The released casein fragments could scavenge 90% of the examined radicals. In-vitro cell culture studies showed that the hydrolysates were not cytotoxic, and the casein-based film had a favorable interaction with fibroblast cells, indicating its potential as a scaffold in the case that proteolytic activity would not be to the extent that causes its rapid disintegration. In general, these findings hold promise for applying the developed casein-based structure for detecting proteolytic activity without the need for any equipment, kits, or expertise and, more importantly, in a highly economical manner. In the case that the proteolytic activity would not be severe, it could also serve as a substrate for cell adhesion and growth; this would aid in the healing process.