Bacterial cellulose/acrylic acid hydrogel synthesized via electron beam irradiation: Accelerated burn wound healing in an animal model

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2014-12, Vol.114, p.312-320
• Main Authors: Mohamad, Najwa, Mohd Amin, Mohd Cairul Iqbal, Pandey, Manisha, Ahmad, Naveed, Rajab, Nor Fadilah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylates - chemistry; Acrylic acid; Animals; Applied sciences; Bacterial cellulose; Biological and medical sciences; Burn wound; Burns - drug therapy; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose and derivatives; Exact sciences and technology; Fibroblasts - cytology; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemical synthesis; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - chemistry; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - pharmacology; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Rats; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Wound healing; Wound Healing - drug effects
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.08.025

•Hydrogels for wound dressing were made using bacterial cellulose and acrylic acid.•Optimal crosslinking (35kGy) gave a strong and elastic hydrogel dubbed H35.•Hydrogels were non-cytotoxic in mouse fibroblast cells (L929).•H35 induced re-epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition.•H35 had the highest wound contraction rate and accelerated wound-healing processes. Natural polymer-based hydrogels are of interest to health care professionals as wound dressings owing to their ability to absorb exudates and provide hydration for healing. The aims of this study were to develop and characterize bacterial cellulose/acrylic acid (BC/AA) hydrogels synthesized by electron beam irradiation and investigate its wound healing potential in an animal model. The BC/AA hydrogels were characterized by SEM, tensile strength, water absorptivity, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The cytotoxicity of the hydrogels was investigated in L929 cells. Skin irritation and wound healing properties were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats. BC/AA hydrogels had a macroporous network structure, high swelling ratio (4000–6000% at 24h), and high WVTR (2175–2280g/m2/day). The hydrogels were non-toxic in the cell viability assay. In vivo experiments indicated that hydrogels promoted faster wound-healing, enhanced epithelialization, and accelerated fibroblast proliferation compared to that in the control group. These results suggest that BC/AA hydrogels are promising materials for burn dressings.