Abstract
The effective treatment of chronic wounds constitutes one of the most common worldwide healthcare problem due to the presence of high levels of proteases, free radicals and exudates in the wound, which constantly activate the inflammatory system, avoiding tissue regeneration. In this study, we describe a multifunctional bioactive and resorbable membrane with in-built antioxidant agent catechol for the continuous quenching of free radicals as well as to control inflammatory response, helping to promote the wound-healing process. This natural polyphenol (catechol) is the key molecule responsible for the mechanism of adhesion of mussels providing also the functionalized polymer with bioadhesion in the moist environment of the human body. To reach that goal, synthesized statistical copolymers of N-vinylcaprolactam (V) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (H) have been conjugated with catechol bearing hydrocaffeic acid (HCA) molecules with high yields. The system has demonstrated good biocompatibility, a sustained antioxidant response, an anti-inflammatory effect, an ultraviolet (UV) screen, and bioadhesion to porcine skin, all of these been key features in the wound-healing process. Therefore, these novel mussel-inspired materials have an enormous potential for application and can act very positively, favoring and promoting the healing effect in chronic wounds.
Highlights
To date, substantial research efforts have been directed toward developing wound-dressing materials that promote an effective treatment for skin lesions supporting the complex wound-healing process [1,2,3]
It is well known that chronic wounds, defined as wounds that do not heal, are extremely difficult to treat constituting one of the most common worldwide healthcare problem [4,5]
It can be noticed that the band corresponding to the stretching vibration of the ester group increased with the amount of H units in the copolymer while the band corresponding to the stretching vibration of the carbonyl group of the amide group decreased for the lower content of V units in the copolymer
Summary
Substantial research efforts have been directed toward developing wound-dressing materials that promote an effective treatment for skin lesions supporting the complex wound-healing process [1,2,3]. It is well known that chronic wounds, defined as wounds that do not heal (diabetic ulcers, pressure sores, venous ulcers, etc.), are extremely difficult to treat constituting one of the most common worldwide healthcare problem [4,5] These lesions are not able to achieve functional integrity of the injured tissue after medical treatment [6], causing constant pain and diminishing the quality of life of the patient [7]. Proteases degrade growth factors and elastin and collagen newly synthesized, while free radicals oxidize biomolecules and constantly activate the inflammatory system [5,7,8,12,13], and exudates promote microbial infection These facts explain why chronic wounds remain in the inflammatory stage for too long, avoiding tissue regeneration and healing [14]
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