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Lignin-Based Nanoparticles as Both Structural and Active Elements in Self-Assembling and Self-Healing Multifunctional
A Gala Morena1, Sílvia Pérez-Rafael1, Tzanko Tzanov1
1Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Rambla Sant Nebridi, 22, 08222 Terrassa, Spain.
Pharmaceutics
|December 23, 2022
Summary
New bio-based hydrogels blend hyaluronic acid and silk fibroin with lignin nanoparticles to create advanced wound dressings. These dressings effectively combat bacterial infections and reduce inflammation, promoting efficient wound healing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Chronic wounds result from factors like proteolytic enzymes, oxidative stress, and bacterial infections.
- Current wound dressings often lack multifunctional capabilities to address these complex issues.
- Developing advanced biomaterials is crucial for improving wound healing outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop entirely bio-based, multifunctional self-assembled hydrogels for enhanced wound healing.
- To investigate the properties and efficacy of hydrogels incorporating lignin-based nanoparticles.
- To create a wound dressing that targets multiple factors contributing to wound chronicity.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized multifunctional hydrogels by mixing thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) and silk fibroin (SF) with phenolated lignin nanoparticles (PLN).
- Characterized hydrogel properties including self-healing, shear-thinning, pH-responsive release, and mechanical stability.
- Assessed cytotoxicity on human skin cells and antimicrobial activity against *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*.
- Evaluated the inhibition of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and antioxidant effects.
Main Results:
- The developed hydrogels exhibited self-healing, shear-thinning, and pH-responsive properties (pH 7-9).
- Hydrogels demonstrated excellent stability for at least 7 days with tunable mechanical properties.
- High human skin cell viability (>93%) was observed, alongside significant reduction in bacterial viability (99.7% for *S. aureus*, 99.0% for *P. aeruginosa*).
- The hydrogels effectively inhibited MPO (up to 52%) and MMP activity and displayed strong antioxidant effects.
Conclusions:
- Bio-based hydrogels incorporating phenolated lignin nanoparticles offer a promising multifunctional approach for wound healing.
- These materials effectively address bacterial infection, inflammation, and oxidative stress, key factors in chronic wounds.
- The tunable and stable nature of these hydrogels makes them suitable candidates for advanced wound dressing applications.
