Innovative Approach to Accelerate Wound Healing: Synthesis and Validation of Enzymatically Cross-Linked COL-rGO Biocomposite Hydrogels.

In this study, an innovative conductive hybrid biomaterial was synthetized using collagen (COL) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in order for it to be used as a wound dressing. The hydrogels were plasticized with glycerol and enzymatically cross-linked with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). A successful interaction among the components was demonstrated by FTIR, XRD, and XPS. It was demonstrated that increasing the rGO concentration led to higher conductivity and negative charge density values. Moreover, rGO also improved the stability of hydrogels, which was expressed by a reduction in the biodegradation rate. Furthermore, the hydrogel's stability against the enzymatic action of collagenase type I was also strengthened by both the enzymatic cross-linking and the polymerization of dopamine. However, their absorption capacity, reaching values of 215 g/g, indicates the high potential of the hydrogels to absorb fluids. The rise of these properties positively influenced the wound closure process, achieving an 84.5% in vitro closure rate after 48 h. These findings clearly demonstrate that these original composite biomaterials can be a viable choice for wound healing purposes.

Self-Assembled CNF/rGO/Tannin Composite: Study of the Physicochemical and Wound Healing Properties.

In this study, a conductive composite material, based on graphene oxide (GO), nanocellulose (CNF), and tannins (TA) from pine bark, reduced using polydopamine (PDA), was developed for wound dressing. The amount of CNF and TA was varied in the composite material, and a complete characterization including SEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, and TGA was performed. Additionally, the conductivity, mechanical properties, cytotoxicity, and in vitro wound healing of the materials were evaluated. A successful physical interaction between CNF, TA, and GO was achieved. Increasing CNF amount in the composite reduced the thermal properties, surface charge, and conductivity, but its strength, cytotoxicity, and wound healing performance were improved. The TA incorporation slightly reduced the cell viability and migration, which may be associated with the doses used and the extract's chemical composition. However, the in-vitro-obtained results demonstrated that these composite materials can be suitable for wound healing.