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Abstract
Purpose - Wound healing is a dynamic process that relies on coordinated signaling molecules to succeed. Silk has proven to be a promising biomaterial for the development of a novel product. The purpose of the study is development of silk films, augmented functionality can be provided to silk by means of loading honey and recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF).
Design/methodology/approach - In this research work, the authors set out to explore possibilities of silk-based biomedical device development with particular attention to different fabrication strategies that can be leveraged for this purpose. They have produced a novel silk-based drug delivery material, in the form of silk films. Scanning electronic microscope was used to observe the morphology and the highly specific surface area. The structure was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. This methodology is accomplished using in vivo study data using Wister albonia rats.
Findings - The developed films also provided a significant higher healing rate in vivo, with well-formed epidermis with faster granulation tissue formation when compared to the controls. Biodegradable polymeric materials based on blending aqueous dispersions of natural polymer sodium alginate, Chitosan and rhEGF complex, which allow controlled antiseptic release, are presented.
Originality/value - These results suggest that silk-based controlled release of Chitosan-rhEGF may serve as a new therapy to accelerate healing of burn wounds.
Keywords Chitosan, Alginate, Burn wound, Silk fibroin, Silk film
Paper type Research paper
(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)
Introduction
Health-care professionals had to face an increasing number of patients suffering from burns wounds that were difficult to treat and heal. During burn wound healing process, the dressing protects injury and contributes to the recovery of epidermal tissues (Kurhade et al., 2013). Due to biocompatibility, biodegradability and similarity to macromolecules are recognized by the human body; some natural occurring polymers such as polysaccharides (alginates, chitin, chitosan, heparin, chondroitin), proteoglycans and proteins (collagen, gelatin, fibrin, keratin, silk fibroin [SF], egg shell membrane) are extensively used in wounds and burns management (Lawrence, 2008; Langer, 1998; Kweon et al., 2001; Kundu et al., 2014).
Infection is still a leading cause of morbidity in burn patients, although major advances have been achieved in burn wound management (Acar etal., 2011). Infection impedes wound healing by damaging tissue and promoting inappropriate and excessive...