Biotechnological wound dressings based on bacterial cellulose and degradable copolymer P(3HB/4HB)

Abstract

Hybrid wound dressings have been constructed using two biomaterials: bacterial cellulose (BC) and copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric and 4-hydroxybutyric acids [P(3HB/4HB)] – a biodegradable polymer of microbial origin. Some of the experimental membranes were loaded with drugs promoting wound healing and epidermal cells differentiated from multipotent adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A study has been carried out to investigate the structure and physical/mechanical properties of the membranes. The in vitro study showed that the most effective scaffolds for growing fibroblasts were composite BC/P(3HB/4HB) films loaded with actovegin. Two types of the experimental biotechnological wound dressings – BC/P(3HB/4HB)/actovegin and BC/P(3HB/4HB)/fibroblasts – were tested in vivo, on laboratory animals with model third-degree skin burns. Wound planimetry, histological examination, and biochemical and molecular methods of detecting factors of angiogenesis, inflammation, type I collagen, and keratin 10 and 14 were used to monitor wound healing. Experimental wound dressings promoted healing more effectively than VoskoPran – a commercial wound dressing.