Carbon quantum dot incorporated AV/carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel for enhanced wound healing

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a novel class of nanomaterials, have received significant attention due to their unique properties, including excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, and strong fluorescence. In this study, CQDs were integrated into a hybrid hydrogel matrix composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and the bioactive components of aloe vera (AV) to leverage their synergistic wound healing and antimicrobial potential. AV, a renowned medicinal plant, has been traditionally used for wound healing. CMC, a versatile polymer, has excellent biocompatibility and moisture retention capabilities. The combination of AV, CMC, CQD and quercetin in a hydrogel formulation presents a promising approach for enhancing wound healing. In this study, we have synthesized CQDs and characterized them with X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and RAMAN spectroscopy. CQDs show very good antimicrobial properties against wound pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, studied through well diffusion, colony-forming unit (CFU), growth curve, biofilm assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell membrane integrity, protein leakage, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and lipid peroxidation assessing its ability to inhibit infections in wounds. The synthesized hydrogels were evaluated in vitro for their morphology, antibacterial activity, swelling behavior, degradation profile, and rheological properties. The AV/CMC/CQD/QUECERTIN hydrogels show enhanced wound healing in in vivo wound healing experiments on albino Wistar rats with 89% wound closure on day 13 compared to the control which has only 58% wound closure.