Development of collagen–chitosan dressing gel functionalized with propolis–zinc oxide nanoarchitectonics to accelerate wound healing

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 261; p. 129665
• Main Authors: Zayed, Heba S., Saleh, Safaa, Omar, Areg E., Saleh, Ahmed K., Salama, Ahmed, Tolba, Emad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Nanoarchitectonics; Propolis; Wound-healing; Nanoarchitectonics; Wound-healing; Propolis
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129665

Using an in situ sol-gel technique, new nanoarchitectonics of propolis loaded zinc oxide nanoarchitectonics (PP/ZnO–NPs) were developed in order to improve the in vivo outcomes of collagen–chitosan gel in wounded rats. The obtained nanoarchitectonics were fully characterized. The XRD results indicate the presence of a Zincite phase for ZnO–NPs and Zincite accompanied by a minor amount of zinc hydroxide for PP/ZnO–NPs samples. While the TEM findings illustrate the transfer of the ZnO–NPs from agglomerated spheres with an average particle size of 230 ± 29 nm to needle–like NPs of 323 ± 173 nm length (PP1/ZnO–NPs) and to a sheet–like NPs of 500 ± 173 nm diameter (PP2/ZnO–NPs). In addition, the incorporation of PP results in an increase in the surface negativity of ZnO–NPs to −31.4 ± 6.4 mV for PP2/ZnO–NPs. The antimicrobial activities of the nanocomposite gel loaded with 10%PP1/ZnO–NPs (G6) revealed the highest inhibition zone against E. coli (26 ± 2.31 mm). Remarkably, the in vivo outcomes showed that the nanocomposite gel (G6) has exceptional collagen deposition, quick wound closure rates, and re-epithelization. The outcomes demonstrate the nanocomposite gel encouraging biological properties for the treatment of damaged and infected wounds. The functionalized nanocomposite gel offers a favorable microenvironment to accelerate the wound healing process such as antibacterial activity, diminished inflammation response, vascular regeneration, and rapid wound cluster. [Display omitted]