Fabrication and characterization of in situ gelling oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin nanofibers for wound healing applications
Ahmad Hivechi, Hoora Yousefmoumji, S. Hajir Bahrami, Peiman Brouki Milan
Abstract
Although tissue engineering science has made great progress, wound healing has remained a significant clinical challenge, especially in cases of severe injuries requiring advanced treatment strategies. This study aimed to develop patient-friendly in situ gelling nanofibers composed of oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) and gelatin for wound healing applications. A two-axial electrospinning technique was employed to fabricate OCMC/PVA-Gelatin hybrid nanofibers. Because of the nanofibers' high surface area, the resulting scaffold can quickly absorb wound exudates, resulting in a cross-linked hydrogel via the Schiff-base reaction between OCMC and gelatin. The nanofibers were thoroughly characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA, confirming their successful fabrication and structural integrity. Notably, the nanofibers demonstrated full degradation within 21 days, aligning with the requirements for skin tissue regeneration. Antibacterial assays revealed 99.9 % efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The electrospun OCMC/PVA and OCMC/PVA-Gel samples exhibited 91 ± 10 % and 92 ± 7 % cell viability after 7 days of L929 fibroblast cell culture, confirming their excellent biocompatibility. These findings highlight the potential of the developed nanofibers as antimicrobial and biocompatible wound dressings with an appropriate degradation profile, presenting a practical and effective alternative to conventional hydrogel systems for advanced wound healing applications.