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Temporary skin grafts based on hybrid graphene oxide-natural biopolymer nanofibers as effective wound healing substitutes: pre-clinical and pathological studies in animal models

  • Clinical Applications of Biomaterials
  • Original Research
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Abstract

In recent years, temporary skin grafts (TSG) based on natural biopolymers modified with carbon nanostructures have received considerable attention for wound healing. Developments are required to improve physico-mechanical properties of these materials to match to natural skins. Additionally, in-deep pre-clinical examinations are necessary to ensure biological performance and toxicity effect in vivo. In the present work, we show superior acute-wound healing effect of graphene oxide nanosheets embedded in ultrafine biopolymer fibers (60 nm) on adult male rats. Nano-fibrous chitosan-based skin grafts crosslinked by Genepin with physico-mechanical properties close to natural skins were prepared by electrospinning of highly concentrated chitosan- polyvinylpyrrolidone solutions containing graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. No surfactants and organic solvents were utilized to ensure high biocompatibility of the fibrous structure. In vitro evaluations by human skin fibroblast cells including live and dead assay and MTT results show that GO promote cell viability of porous nanofibrous membrane while providing enhanced bactericidal capacity. In vivo studies on rat’s skin determine accelerated healing effect, i.e. a large open wound (1.5 × 1.5 cm2) is fully regenerated after 14-day of post operation while healing is observed for sterile gauze sponge (as the control). Pathological studies support thick dermis formation and complete epithelialization in the presence of 1.5 wt% GO nanosheets. Over 99% wound healing occurs after 21 days for the injury covered with TSG containing 1.5 wt% GO while this would takes weeks for the control. Therefore, the developed materials have a high potential to be used as TSG as pre-clinical testing has shown.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Dr. Fatemeh Mohandes, and Mr. Eng. Amin Jalali (Sharif university of Technology) for experimental and technical support. AS thanks funding support from Sharif University of Technology (No. G930305), Iran National Science Foundation (INSF No. 95-S-48740), and Iran Elite Foundation (No. ENL 5418).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box11155-9161, Azadi Avenue, Tehran, 14588, Iran

    N. Mahmoudi, M. Mohammadi & A. Simchi

  2. Department of Textile Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    N. Eslahi

  3. Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    A. Mehdipour

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    M. Akbari

  5. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A. Samadikuchaksaraei

  6. Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A. Samadikuchaksaraei

  7. Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, P. O. Box 11365-9466, Azadi Avenue, Tehran, 14588, Iran

    A. Simchi

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  1. N. Mahmoudi
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Correspondence to A. Simchi.

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Mahmoudi, N., Eslahi, N., Mehdipour, A. et al. Temporary skin grafts based on hybrid graphene oxide-natural biopolymer nanofibers as effective wound healing substitutes: pre-clinical and pathological studies in animal models. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 28, 73 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-017-5874-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-017-5874-y

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