Preclinical efficacy study of a porous biopolymeric scaffold based on gelatin-hyaluronic acid-chondroitin sulfate in a porcine burn injury model: role of critical molecular markers (VEGFA, N-cadherin, COX-2), gamma sterilization efficacy and a comparison of healing potential to Integra™. (1st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khurana, Amit; Banothu, Anil Kumar; Thanusha, A V; Nayal, Aradhana; Dinda, Amit Kumar; Singhal, Maneesh; Bharani, Kala Kumar; Koul, Veena
• Is Part Of: Biomedical materials. Volume 16:Number 5(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-01
• Subjects: hydrogel scaffold -- burn injury -- swine model -- angiogenesis -- gelatin -- hyaluronic acid -- gamma sterilization; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-605X/ac1d3e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-6041

Abstract

Abstract: Development of scaffold from biopolymers can ease the requirements for donor skin autograft and plays an effective role in the treatment of burn wounds. In the current study, a porous foam based, bilayered hydrogel scaffold was developed using gelatin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate (G-HA-CS). The fabricated scaffold was characterized physicochemically for pre- and post-sterilization efficacy by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). In-vitro studies proved that the scaffold promoted cellular proliferation. The efficacy of G-HA-CS scaffold was compared with Integra™ at different time points (7, 14, 21 and 42 days), in a swine second degree burn wound model. Remarkable healing potential of the scaffold was evident from the wound contraction rate, reduction of IL-6, TNF- α and C3. The expression of healing markers TGF- β 1 and collagen 1 revealed significant skin regeneration with regulated fibroblast activation towards the late phase of healing ( p < 0.001 at day 21 and 42 vs. control). Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA), vimentin and N-cadherin were found to favor angiogenesis and skin regeneration. Mechanistically, scaffold promoted wound healing by modulation of CD-45, cyclooxygenase-2 and MMP-2. Thus, the promising results with foam based scaffold, comparable to Integra™ in swine burn injury model offer an innovative lead for clinical translation for effective management of burn wound.