Casein fibres for wound healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Casein, a milk phosphoprotein, is increasingly utilized in health supplements.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester with potential biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel bandage-like fibers incorporating a high concentration of casein (50 wt%) within a PCL matrix.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these casein-loaded PCL fibers in promoting wound healing in a diabetic rat model.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of casein-loaded PCL fibers with an average diameter of 1.4 ± 0.5 µm.
• In vitro assessment of mouse fibroblast cell viability to determine cytotoxicity.
• In vivo 14-day wound healing trial comparing casein-PCL fibers, pure PCL fibers, and no treatment in diabetic rats.
• Histological analysis and measurement of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, NF-κB, IL-6).

Main Results:

• Casein-loaded PCL fibers exhibited low cytotoxicity with over 90% cell viability.
• Significant acceleration of wound healing was observed in rats treated with casein-loaded fibers compared to controls.
• Histological analysis revealed enhanced granulation tissue formation and follicle regrowth.
• Reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, NF-κB, IL-6) were detected in the casein-loaded fiber group.

Conclusions:

• Casein-loaded PCL fibers represent an economical and simple approach for advanced wound healing.
• The incorporation of casein promotes a superior healing process by modulating the inflammatory response.
• These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of casein-based biomaterials in regenerative medicine.