Bilayer cellulose-coated hyaluronic acid-based scaffold for accelerating oral wound healing

Abstract

Objectives To assess the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based scaffolds on oral wound healing. Materials and Methods A film-type 3% HA scaffold with bilayer cellulose coating was prepared and compared with one without coating. For cytocompatibility, human gingival fibroblasts were exposed to both scaffolds. Cell viability, flow cytometry, and scratch wound assays were performed. Additionally, in vivo and` ex vivo wound-healing assays were also conducted. Results Cytocompatibility tests showed no cytotoxicity for either HA scaffold. The scratch wound assay revealed a significant reduction in the open wound area in both HA scaffolds compared with the control (p < 0.05). However, no differences were observed in the open wound areas between the scaffolds with and without cellulose coating. Regarding in vivo wound healing analysis, the healing rates on day 3 were significantly higher in the HA scaffolds than in the control (p < 0.05), and there were no differences between the scaffolds. The HA scaffolds with the coating showed lower CD68 and higher vimentin expression than the control (p < 0.05). In contrast, the HA scaffolds without the coating did not. The ex vivo wound healing analysis showed significantly higher re-epithelialization rates in both scaffolds compared to the control (p < 0.05). Conclusions Within the limits of this study, the HA scaffold with coating showed enhanced wound-healing efficacy, indicating its potential for oral wound-healing applications.