Electrospun cellulose acetate/alginate incorporated with kaempferol enhances cells’ proliferation activity in a hyperglycaemic microenvironment

Abstract

The treatment of diabetic wounds remains a global challenge, as their nature of delayed healing, which is due to the oxidative stress, persistent infection, and frequent dressing changes during the healing process, could risk limb amputations and even fatality. A variety of approaches have been undertaken to generate skin substitutes, wound-healing patches, or dressings with adequate barrier properties, degradation, exudate uptake capacity, and wound-healing capacity. This study aimed to evaluate a novel bioactive wound dressing from rice husk cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun loaded with kaempferol (KM) and layered with alginate solution (CA-KM/ALG) with the ability to deliver KM to the wound site. KM is highly enriched with multiple therapeutic agents that can promote cellular response and wound healing. In this study, electrospun CA nanofibers containing KM were first fabricated by the electrospinning method and then combined with the alginate hydrogel (ALG). The scanning electron microscopy images and macroscopic images revealed that CA nanofibers were fully covered with alginate hydrogel. FTIR results showed the successful incorporation of KM in nanofibers. Water contact angle, porosity, water uptake, and weight loss study of CA-KM/ALG (0°, 91.30 ± 4.72%, 600-650%, 50%). Fibroblast culturing on the fabricated dressings in both normal and hyperglycemic conditions demonstrated that cellular attachment and proliferation improved with suitable KM concentration (15.67 µg/mL). Taken together, our results provide a novel bioactive dressing with great potential for speeding up the healing process in severe wounds.