Experimental wound dressings of degradable PHA for skin defect repair

Abstract

The present study reports construction of wound dressing materials from degradable natural polymers such as hydroxy derivatives of carboxylic acids (PHAs) and 3-hydroxybutyrate/4-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB/4HB)] as copolymer. The developed polymer films and electrospun membranes were evaluated for its wound healing properties with Grafts-elastic nonwoven membranes carrying fibroblast cells derived from adipose tissue multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. The efficacy of nonwoven membranes of P(3HB/4HB) carrying the culture of allogenic fibroblasts was assessed against model skin defects in Wistar rats. The morphological, histological and molecular studies revealed the presence of fibroblasts on dressing materials which facilitated wound healing, vascularization and regeneration. Further it was also observed that cells secreted extracellular matrix proteins which formed a layer on the surface of membranes and promoted the migration of epidermal cells from the neighboring tissues surrounding the wound. The wounds under the P(3HB/4HB) membrane carrying cells healed 1.4 times faster than the wounds under the cell-free membrane and 3.5 times faster than the wounds healing under the eschar (control).The complete wound healing process was achieved at Day 14. Thus the study highlights the importance of nonwoven membranes developed from degradable P(3HB/4HB) polymers in reducing inflammation, enhancing angiogenic properties of skin and facilitating better wound healing process.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) for therapeutic applications

“…Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB), copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBHHx) and poly-3-hydroxyoctanoate (PHO) and its composites have been used to develop sutures, repair devices, repair patches, slings, cardiovascular patches, orthopedic pins, adhesion barriers, stents, guided tissue repair/ regeneration devices, articular cartilage repair devices, nerve guides, tendon repair devices, bone marrow scaffolds, and wound dressings [3,[19][20][21] (Fig 1). This paper reviews what have been achieved in the recent PHA tissue therapeutic area and look to the future for PHA as a tissue engineering materials.…”

Formulation of silver chloride/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (AgCl/PHBV) films for potential use in bone tissue engineering

“…PHB has a high degree of crystallinity, high melting point, integral crystal structure, and brittleness. The brittle characteristic of PHB can be overcome by copolymerization with 3‐hydroxyvaleric acid (HV) . Tunable mechanical and chemical properties, biodegradation rate, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, piezoelectricity, and hydrophobicity makes PHBV a very attractive material for use as implant.…”

Recent Progress in Polyhydroxyalkanoates‐Based Copolymers for Biomedical Applications

“…With natural compatibility and functionality, PHA has a good potentials for wound healing. For the past few years, a series of PHA‐based copolymers have been prepared as wound dressings . As shown in Figure , Amirul's team made a P(3HB‐co‐4HB) nanofiber structure incorporating collagen peptide by electrospinning technology, which has better surface wettability and physical properties of biodegradable wound dressings.…”