Controlled Release of Chitosan and Sericin from the Microspheres-Embedded Wound Dressing for the Prolonged Anti-microbial and Wound Healing Efficacy

Abstract

One approach in wound dressing development is to incorporate active molecules or drugs in the dressing. In order to reduce the frequency of dressing changes as well as to prolong wound healing efficacy, wound dressings that can sustain the release of the active molecules should be developed. In our previous work, we developed chitosan/sericin (CH/SS) microspheres that released sericin in a controlled rate. However, the difficulty of applying the microspheres that easily diffuse and quickly degrade onto the wound was its limitations. In this study, we aimed to develop wound dressing materials which are easier to apply and to provide extended release of sericin. Different amounts of CH/SS microspheres were embedded into various compositions of polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin (PVA/G) scaffolds and fabricated using freeze-drying and glutaraldehyde crosslinking techniques. The obtained CH/SS microspheres-embedded scaffolds with appropriate design and formulation were introduced as a wound dressing material. Sericin was released from the microspheres and the scaffolds in a sustained manner. Furthermore, an optimized formation of the microspheres-embedded scaffolds (2PVA2G+2CHSS) was shown to possess an effective antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These microspheres-embedded scaffolds were not toxic to L929 mouse fibroblast cells, and they did not irritate the tissue when applied to the wound. Finally, probably by the sustained release of sericin, these microspheres-embedded scaffolds could promote wound healing as well as or slightly better than a clinically used wound dressing (Allevyn®) in a mouse model. The antimicrobial CH/SS microspheres-embedded PVA/G scaffolds with sustained release of sericin would appear to be a promising candidate for wound dressing application.

Current Status of Alginate in Drug Delivery

“…Alginate hydrogels are applied in wound healing treatments through the construction of wound dressings [12][13][14][15]. Several studies showed that the bioavailability of drugs encapsulated in alginate hydrogels is greater than that of the free drug applied directly at the lesion site, thus increasing the efficacy of healing.…”

Polyphenols-Loaded Sericin Self-Assembling Nanoparticles: A Slow-Release for Regeneration by Tissue-Resident Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

“…In the drug delivery field, SS has been employed, among other proteins, in the formulation of drug delivery systems in the form of both micro [18,19] and nanoparticles [14,20]. Protein-based nano-systems are being used to improve the cellular uptake and the body's distribution of the drug, as well as to replace materials that are not biocompatible or have a negative impact on the environment.…”

Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum L.) fibers impregnated with vancomycin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as new antibacterial wound dressing: Preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity

“…However, the slow release of antimicrobial agent from wound dressing has the advantage of treating infected wounds in a mild way (Gomes et al, 2015). So, nanoparticles impregnated into fibers offer great opportunities for improving wounds treatments due to the easier applicability and more uniform dispersion over the wound surface (Aramwit et al, 2016;Romano et al, 2015).…”