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Published on: August 21, 2021
Development of nitric oxide releasing visible light crosslinked gelatin methacrylate hydrogel for rapid closure of
Alap Ali Zahid1, Robin Augustine1, Yogesh B Dalvi2
1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar.
Abstract:
Management of non-healing and slow to heal diabetic wounds is a major concern in healthcare across the world. Numerous techniques have been investigated to solve the issue of delayed wound healing, though, mostly unable to promote complete healing of diabetic wounds due to the lack of proper cell proliferation, poor cell-cell communication, and higher chances of wound infections. These challenges can be minimized by using hydrogel based wound healing patches loaded with bioactive agents. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) has been proven to be a highly cell friendly, cell adhesive, and inexpensive biopolymer for various tissue engineering and wound healing applications. In this study, S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, was incorporated in a highly porous GelMA hydrogel patch to improve cell proliferation, facilitate rapid cell migration, and enhance diabetic wound healing. We adopted a visible light crosslinking method to fabricate this highly porous biodegradable but relatively stable patch. Developed patches were characterized for morphology, NO release, cell proliferation and migration, and diabetic wound healing in a rat model. The obtained results indicate that SNAP loaded visible light crosslinked GelMA hydrogel patches can be highly effective in promoting diabetic wound healing.
Insights
This study developed a novel hydrogel wound patch using Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and a nitric oxide (NO) donor. The innovative patch effectively promotes diabetic wound healing by enhancing cell proliferation and migration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Diabetic wounds present significant healing challenges due to impaired cell function and infection risk.
- Existing treatments often fail to fully restore diabetic wound healing.
- Hydrogel patches offer a promising platform for delivering bioactive agents to wounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a porous Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel patch loaded with S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) as a nitric oxide (NO) donor.
- To investigate the potential of this NO-releasing hydrogel patch to improve diabetic wound healing.
- To assess the patch's efficacy in enhancing cell proliferation, migration, and overall wound closure.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of porous GelMA hydrogel patches using visible light crosslinking.
- Incorporation of SNAP, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, into the hydrogel matrix.
- Characterization of hydrogel morphology, NO release kinetics, and in vitro cell behavior (proliferation, migration).
- Evaluation of diabetic wound healing in a rat model.
Main Results:
- The developed GelMA hydrogel patches exhibited suitable porous morphology and controlled NO release.
- SNAP-loaded patches significantly enhanced in vitro cell proliferation and migration compared to controls.
- In vivo studies demonstrated accelerated diabetic wound healing in rats treated with the SNAP-loaded GelMA patches.
Conclusions:
- Visible light crosslinked GelMA hydrogel patches loaded with SNAP are effective in promoting diabetic wound healing.
- The NO-releasing hydrogel system addresses key challenges in diabetic wound management by improving cellular processes.
- This technology holds potential as an advanced therapeutic strategy for non-healing diabetic wounds.
