Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of Native and Anionic Nanofibrillar Cellulose Hydrogels for Full-Thickness Skin Wound Healing

Abstract

Nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC)-derived dressings such as films, hydrogels, and aerogels are one of the favorable materials for wound healing due to their proper mechanical properties and water holding ability. However, the therapeutic differences between native and anionic NFC materials are rarely studied. In this report, we compared the differences and addressed the regenerative potential of native and anionic wood-derived NFC hydrogels for wound treatment. In vitro characteristics of the hydrogels were detected using scanning electron microscopy, rheological measurements, and swelling and hemolytic activity assays. Skin regeneration at an early stage after hydrogel treatment was analyzed using an in vivo splinted excisional full-thickness skin wound model in C57BL/6 mice. Both native NFC and anionic NFC (ANFC) hydrogel with differing mechanical and surface properties were shown to be biocompatible. Surprisingly, wounds treated with NFC and ANFC hydrogel did not show any statistical difference compared with control wounds and progressed through normal wound closure, inflammatory response, re-epithelialization, vascularization, and tissue maturation with no signs of fibrosis. The data show here for the first time the therapeutic performance of native and anionic NFC hydrogel in a wound mimicking human wound healing mechanisms. The mechanical properties of native and anionic NFC hydrogels such as the capability to modify material stiffness may also prove to be valuable in the management of wounds in the future.

A quick pipeline for the isolation of 3D cell culture‐derived extracellular vesicles

“…Accordingly, we also observed a difference between NFC and aNFC scaffolds in the EV yield and time course, independent of the same culture conditions, which may implicate preferential chemical properties of aNFC or differences in matrix stiffness. Both matrices are nanocellulose, but NFC is a native sugar, while aNFC is anionic (Na + salt – 20% of the hydroxyl groups ionized) (Koivuniemi et al., 2021 ). With shorter and thinner fibres (Sheard et al., 2019 ), aNFC is more viscous than NFC at 0.5% concentration, which may have an impact to, for example, cell proliferation and thereby the EV production.…”

Angiogenic Potential of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Nanofibrillated Cellulose Hydrogel

“…Due to the animal free-origin, NFC hydrogel would be an optimal biomaterial to be utilized in future cell-therapy applications without immunomodulatory effects. In previous studies, both neutrally charged and anionic-charged NFC hydrogel has been shown to provoke a normal inflammatory response in vivo, suggesting a safe-to-use protocol for their application in cell transplantation [ 44 , 45 ]. During culturing in NFC hydrogel, hASCs changed their cell spheroid formation into capillary-like structures, which could be beneficial for angiogenesis protection.…”

An injectable cellulose acetate/sodium alginate hydrogels-loaded laponite microsphere as a potential wound healing in nursing care in perioperative period

“…The wound contraction was recorded with a digital camera at determined time within two weeks (figure 9(A)). CA/SA instantly during the treatments, with no adherence to the incision site [49]. In comparison, the CSL solution took 2 min to cure, fill in, and attach to the wound site.…”