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Elastolytic-sensitive 3D-printed chitosan scaffold for wound healing applications

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Abstract

The combination of a chitosan 3D-printed scaffold with a hydrogel matrix containing an elastin-like polypeptide functionalized with the epidermal growth factor (HEGF) was evaluated as a possible strategy to obtain a bioactive platform with stimuli-responsive properties. We designed a chitosan/HEGF hybrid scaffold and examined the physico-chemical properties and the in vitro behavior when in contact with simulated biological fluids. Primary human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) were used to test the in vitro cytocompatibility. Overall, these data provide first insights into the integration of HEGF-based hydrogel with 3D-printed scaffolds, contributing towards the rational design of a new smart functional wound dressing.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by “Commissariato del Governo della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia - Fondo Trieste” and managed by AREA Science park in the frame of “Made in Trieste” program. The authors wish to thank Dr. M. Stebel for technical assistance in HELP and HEGF polypeptide production and Prof. S. Passamonti for scientific assistance during the project.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ovidio Catanzano

    Present address: Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB) – CNR, Via Campi Flegrei, 34, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri, 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Ovidio Catanzano & Antonella Bandiera

  2. Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Lisa Elviri, Carlo Bergonzi, Annalisa Bianchera & Ruggero Bettini

Authors
  1. Ovidio Catanzano
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  2. Lisa Elviri
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  3. Carlo Bergonzi
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  4. Annalisa Bianchera
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  5. Ruggero Bettini
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  6. Antonella Bandiera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ovidio Catanzano.

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Catanzano, O., Elviri, L., Bergonzi, C. et al. Elastolytic-sensitive 3D-printed chitosan scaffold for wound healing applications. MRS Communications 11, 924–930 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-021-00124-x

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