New Amorphous Hydrogels with Proliferative Properties as Potential Tools in Wound Healing

Abstract

The study and discovery of bioactive compounds and new formulations as potential tools for promoting the repair of dermoepidermal tissue in wound healing is of continuing interest. We have developed a new formulation of amorphous hydrogel based on sodium alginate (NaAlg); type I collagen, isolated by the authors from silver carp tails (COL); glycerol (Gli); Aloe vera gel powder (AV); and silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis with aqueous Cinnamomum verum extract (AgNPs@CIN) and vitamin C, respectively. The gel texture of the amorphous hydrogels was achieved by the addition of Aloe vera, demonstrated by a rheological analysis. The evaluations of the cytotoxicity and cell proliferation capacity of the experimental amorphous hydrogels were performed against human foreskin fibroblast Hs27 cells (CRL-1634-ATCC). The developed gel formulations did not show a cytotoxic effect. The hydrogel variant containing AgNPs@CIN in a concentration of 8 µg Ag/gel formulation and hydrogel variant with vitamin C had proliferative activity. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the hydrogels was evaluated against S. aureus ATCC 6538, Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. coli ATCC 25922. The results demonstrated that the gel variant based on AgNPs@CIN in a concentration of 95 µg Ag/gel formulation and the hydrogel based on vitamin C show antibacterial activity. Therefore, the developed hydrogels with AgNPs@CIN and vitamin C could be promising alternatives in wound healing.

Keywords: antibacterial activity; bioactive compounds; cell proliferation; green synthesis; polymeric biocomposites.

Figure 1

The characteristics of AgNPs@CIN: (a) UV–vis absorption spectrum of AgNPs@CIN; (b) SEM images of AgNPs@CIN; (c) XRD pattern of obtained AgNPs@CIN; (d) Williamson–Hall size-strain plot.

Figure 2

Distribution of hydrodynamic diameters of obtained colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@CIN).

Figure 3

The antibacterial activity analyzed via qualitative method for Alg, Alg:COL, and Alg:COL:Gli against S. aureus ATCC 6538, Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. coli ATCC 25922 bacterial strains.

Figure 4

Antibacterial activity of the hydrogel based on AgNPs@CIN (95 µg Ag/35 g gel) and vitamin C (200 mg/35 g gel) against S. aureus ATCC 6538, Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and E. coli ATCC 25922.

Figure 5

Cell viability of Hs27 cells treated with 100 mg/mL gel, determined spectrophotometrically by the MTS method. Error bars represent standard deviation (n = 3).

Figure 6

Dependence of G′ and G′′ moduli on the amplitude stress at 37 °C for: (A) Alg; (B) Alg:COL; (C) Alg:Gli:COL; (D) Alg:Gli:COL:AV; (E) Alg:Gli:COL:AV:AgNPs@CIN (1); (F) Alg:Gli:COL:AV:Vit C (200).

Figure 7

Dependence of G′ and G′′ moduli on the frequency at 37 °C for: (A) Alg; (B) Alg:COL; (C) Alg:Gli:COL; (D) Alg:Gli:COL:AV; (E) Alg:Gli:COL:AV:AgNPs@CIN (1); (F) Alg:Gli:COL:AV:Vit C (200).