The possibility of microbial cellulose for dressing and scaffold materials

Abstract

In recent years, natural polymers such as cellulose, alginate and chitosan have been used worldwide as biomedical materials and devices, as they offer more advantages over synthetic polymers. The aim of this study was to clarify the usefulness of microbial cellulose (MC) for use as a dressing and scaffold material. For evaluating the biodegradability and toxicity of MC, we divided the rats (n = 12) into two groups (the implanted group and the non-implanted group). In the implanted group, we implanted the film type of MC in the backs of six rats. In the non-implanted group, however, we did not implant the film type of MC in the backs of the six rats. Four weeks later, we compared two groups by the gross, histological and biochemical characteristics by using blood and tissue samples. To evaluate the wound healing effects of MC, three full-thickness skin defects were made on the backs of each rat (n = 20). Three wounds on the backs of the same rats were treated with other dressing materials, namely, Vaseline gauze (group Con), Algisite M(®) (group Alg) and MC (group MC). We analysed the gross, histological and biochemical characteristics by western blotting. MC was found to be biodegradable and non-toxic. On day 3, the MC film was visible under the subcutaneous tissue; however, after 4 weeks, no remnants of the film were visible under the subcutaneous tissue. Furthermore, there was no evidence of MC-induced toxicity. Moreover, group MC showed more rapid wound healing compared with group Con. On day 14 after skin excision, group MC showed greater decrease in wound size compared with group Con (33% versus 7·2%). The wound healing effects were also substantiated by the histological findings (greater reduction in inflammation and rapid collagen deposition as well as neovascularisation) and western blotting (decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 in group MC on day 14 after skin excision, unlike group Con). This study showed that, in addition to having wound healing effects, MC is biodegradable and non-toxic and can, therefore, be used as a dressing and scaffold material.

Bacterial cellulose in the field of wound healing and regenerative medicine of skin: recent trends and future prospectives

“…The BC used in this study was indicated as a biocompatible material without toxicity, which effectively biodegrades in vitro and is a safe-to-use material of high clinical application. Obtained BC accelerates contraction through the accumulation of extracellular matrix [104]. Moreover, Park et al in their studies indicated that bacterial cellulose wound dressings may be applied to various type of wounds such as cavity, laceration, abrasion, etc.…”

In VitroStudies of Bacterial Cellulose and Magnetic Nanoparticles Smart Nanocomposites for Efficient Chronic Wounds Healing

“…BC skin tissue repair biomaterials fabricated by a multilayer fermentation method display a low cytotoxicity and sustain the proliferation of human adipose derived stem cells [23]. Previous studies proved that the presence of BC can promote wound healing by accelerating contractions through the accumulation of extracellular matrix [24]. BC-based biomaterials have been reported to be applied in clinical practice to treat nonhealing foot ulcers [25].…”

Effects of different cellulose membranes regenerated from Styela clava tunics on wound healing

“…In a previous study, the group treated with HCM-SCT exhibited an 18.8% decrease in VEGF expression when compared with the GZ-treated group at 11 days post-surgery (11). Moreover, a decrease in the expression of VEGF was observed in the group treated with microbial cellulose on day 14 after skin excision, although it was higher in the same group on day 7 (38). In the present study, the number of blood vessels and the expression level of VEGF were higher in the FSCT-CM-treated group than the other groups on day 7, while their levels were lower on day 14.…”