Bioinspired wound dressing: Investigating coelomic fluid-enhanced chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers

The electrospun mats consisting of integrated coelomic fluid (CF) and chitosan (Chs) into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers were produced and evaluated for use as wound dressings. CF was obtained from earthworms (Eisenia andrei (Fetida)) using an electric shock method, while Chs was chemically produced from shrimp chitin and then characterized using titration, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and viscometry. The wound dressings with different CF contents were evaluated for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and cell viability properties. The dressings infused with CF showed significantly higher antibacterial and antioxidant activity, as well as improved cell viability compared to the control without CF. In vivo studies using adult Wistar albino rats showed that the Chs/PVA/CF wound dressings promoted wound healing and re-epithelialization. Moreover, histological examinations of the injuries coated with Chs/PVA/CF displayed improved re-epithelialization. These results suggest that the Chs/PVA/CF nanofiber has the potential for use as a wound dressing material.