Abstract
Biodegradable 3D-printable inks based on pectin have been developed as a system for direct and indirect wound-dressing applications, suitable for 3D printing technologies. The 3D-printable inks formed free-standing transparent films upon drying, with the latter exhibiting fast disintegration upon contact with aqueous media. The antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of the inks have been successfully enhanced by the addition of particles, comprised of chitosan and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with propolis extract. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied for the optimization of the inks (extrusion-printing pressure, shrinkage minimization over-drying, increased water uptake and minimization of the disintegration of the dry patches upon contact with aqueous media). Particles comprised of chitosan and cyclodextrin/propolis extract inclusion complexes (CCP), bearing antimicrobial properties, were optimized and integrated with the produced inks. The bioprinted patches were assessed for their cytocompatibility, antimicrobial activity and in vitro wound-healing properties. These studies were complemented with ex vivo skin adhesion measurements, a relative surface hydrophobicity and opacity measurement, mechanical properties, visualization, and spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro wound-healing studies revealed that the 3D-bioprinted patches enhanced the in vitro wound-healing process, while the incorporation of CCP further enhanced wound-healing, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the patches.
Highlights
There is a vast number of materials available for wound dressing, currently under investigation for different types of wounds and different treatment approaches [1,2,3,4]
Alternative dressings, fabricated by polymers in the form of films, foams or gels, have already been developed and extensively applied for wound management, as they provide the optimum conditions for wound-healing by maintaining the moisture of the wound and at the same time providing a sense of relief to the patient [3,4].To this end, the aim of this study was the development of a wound-dressing system that could provide an adequate moisture environment under occlusive conditions, and the capability to protect the wound from infection and contamination [5], based on natural, non-toxic materials, like pectin, honey, and propolis
Pectin belongs to a wider class of materials applied for the fabrication of hydrocolloid dressings, that are well-known to promote wound-healing by maintaining a proper, moist environment 5]
Summary
There is a vast number of materials available for wound dressing, currently under investigation for different types of wounds and different treatment approaches [1,2,3,4]. Pectin belongs to a wider class of materials applied for the fabrication of hydrocolloid dressings, that are well-known to promote wound-healing by maintaining a proper, moist environment 5]. These types of dressing can form a gel upon direct contact with wound exudates, leading to high fluid absorption [6], and at the same time provide an adequate protective barrier against bacterial infection [7]. The acidity of the resulting pectin solution enhances the bacterial or viral barrier properties of the system These wound dressings are well known and extensively studied systems for loading and releasing APIs like antibiotics, analgesics, growth factors and others [7,8]
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