(WHS-P99) DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL MICRO-RNA/CERIUM OXIDE-BASED POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR WOUND HEALING APPLICATIONS
Friday, May 17, 2024
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Background: Diabetic wounds represent significant challenges in healthcare, impacting over six million individuals in the United States. Compromised healing, resulting from diabetic condition, is exacerbated by the formation of biofilms. The progression of infection results in inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS), contributing to vascular damage and attenuated healing rates at the wound site. Conventional commercial bandages and wound dressings fall short in addressing these complexities. To address this issue, we have developed silk-based composite bandages tailored for wound healing. In this study, metal substituted cerium oxide nanoparticles (M-CNPs), and microRNA-146a (miR146), when incorporated into silk composites, can serve as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant components in a wound covering product.
Methods: The M-CNPs synthesized by a wet chemical method. The miR146 encapsulated alginate (SA)-chitosan(C)-collage (Col) beads were fabricated using encapsulation equipment. M-CNPs/silk composite films were initially fabricated by a solution casting method and then miR146 beads infused into M-CNPs/silk film to produce a novel composite bandage for wound healing. Fabricated materials were then characterized via FTIR, UV-Vis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM and TEM; in particular, to confirm nanoparticle and miRNA incorporation. The composite film was cultured with HUVEC cell for 1 and 3 days and then analyzed for cell death/proliferation using WST-1 assay. In addition, a commercial angiogenesis assay kit was used to analyze angiogenesis induction by fabricated films in HUVEC cultures.
Results: XPS determined that Ce4+/Ce3+ ratio and amount silver incorporation are essential in observed antioxidant and antimicrobial properties by incorporated nanoparticles. M-CNPs maintained their ROS scavenging abilities following composite incorporation. In vitro study, release of miRNA and M-CNPs and antioxidant were determined using UV-Vis technique and commercial kit. The cell studies showed no significant cytotoxicity for fabricated bandage treated cells. Further, we observed an increase in angiogenic network formation for fabricated bandage film. Based on this result, we propose that the tested fabricated bandage film can be effective in reducing the ROS, microbial infection, inflammation, and increasing angiogenesis; thus, accelerating the healing rate of wounds.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate that fabricated bandage film can provide combinational therapy deliverable to wound sites. The results showed substantial efficacy in scavenging ROS, limiting microbial infection, inflammation, and enhancing angiogenesis. To the authors’ knowledge, the studies material is the first description of a wound healing bandage to incorporate miRNA technology.