Stimulant immobilized bioactive film of functionalized egg albumin blend for wound healing

Wound healing materials with advanced properties that facilitates higher collagen deposition, improved angiogenesis and quick tissue regeneration are crucial for clinical wound management. To meet the requirement, for the first time, our studies focus on engineering bio-originated natural materials, which are tested in combination with the active agents, ascorbic acid (AA), a stimulant and metronidazole (Mtz), an anti-microbial drug. Accordingly, a dual drug (AA, and Mtz) loaded film of functionalized egg albumin (FEA)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was fabricated following the solution casting method. The film was characterized for its morphology and physicochemical properties using various analytical tools. The potential of the film as a wound healing material was evaluated, by in vitro drug release, degradation, cell viability, antimicrobial studies, in vivo wound healing, and histopathological analyses. In vitro degradation studies confirmed their degradability in enzymatic and soil burial conditions. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated their non-toxicity, and the antimicrobial investigations showcased that the material was antibacterial. On the 14th day, the wound closure percentage of the wound induced control group, GI (without treatment) was notably higher at 95 % compared to the test formulation group, GV [FEA-PVA (30/70 w/w) loaded with Mtz and AA (10 % w/w of the total polymer weight), respectively], which exhibited a wound closure of 83 %. Furthermore, the histopathological examinations revealed that the inner wound healing in GV was comparatively better than in GI in terms of angiogenesis, epidermal remodeling, higher collagen deposition, coherency, and tissue regeneration. Consequently, the formulated film can be deemed a suitable wound dressing material.