Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management
Chronic wound infections present a persistent medical challenge; however, advancements in wound dressings and antimicrobial nanomaterials offer promising solutions for improving healing outcomes. This study introduces a hydrothermal synthesis approach for producing zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/3/91 |
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| author | Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Mihai Alexandru Minculescu Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu Ariana Hudiță Alina Maria Holban Adina Alberts Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu |
| author_facet | Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Mihai Alexandru Minculescu Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu Ariana Hudiță Alina Maria Holban Adina Alberts Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu |
| author_sort | Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic wound infections present a persistent medical challenge; however, advancements in wound dressings and antimicrobial nanomaterials offer promising solutions for improving healing outcomes. This study introduces a hydrothermal synthesis approach for producing zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, subsequently incorporated into PLGA microspheres and embedded within collagen hydrogels. The nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm crystalline structure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to verify functional groups and successful hydrogel integration. The hydrogels were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, which are key pathogens in chronic wounds. Biocompatibility was assessed using the human HaCat keratinocyte cell line. Both ZnO- and CuO-loaded hydrogels exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy. Cytocompatibility tests demonstrated that both ZnO- and CuO-loaded hydrogels sustain cell viability and proliferation, highlighting their biocompatibility and suitability for chronic wound healing applications, with superior biological performance of ZnO-loaded hydrogels. Furthermore, the distinct antimicrobial profiles of ZnO and CuO hydrogels suggest their tailored use based on wound microbial composition, with CuO hydrogels excelling in antibacterial applications and ZnO hydrogels showing potential for antifungal treatments. These results underscore the potential of nanoparticle-based collagen hydrogels as innovative therapeutic tools for managing chronic wounds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-994774c54c184c1bb00e63560555e380 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-4983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-994774c54c184c1bb00e63560555e3802025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-03-011639110.3390/jfb16030091Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound ManagementAlexandra Cătălina Bîrcă0Mihai Alexandru Minculescu1Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu2Ariana Hudiță3Alina Maria Holban4Adina Alberts5Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu6Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, University of Bucharest, 050657 Bucharest, RomaniaResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, University of Bucharest, 050657 Bucharest, RomaniaCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, RomaniaChronic wound infections present a persistent medical challenge; however, advancements in wound dressings and antimicrobial nanomaterials offer promising solutions for improving healing outcomes. This study introduces a hydrothermal synthesis approach for producing zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, subsequently incorporated into PLGA microspheres and embedded within collagen hydrogels. The nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm crystalline structure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to verify functional groups and successful hydrogel integration. The hydrogels were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, which are key pathogens in chronic wounds. Biocompatibility was assessed using the human HaCat keratinocyte cell line. Both ZnO- and CuO-loaded hydrogels exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy. Cytocompatibility tests demonstrated that both ZnO- and CuO-loaded hydrogels sustain cell viability and proliferation, highlighting their biocompatibility and suitability for chronic wound healing applications, with superior biological performance of ZnO-loaded hydrogels. Furthermore, the distinct antimicrobial profiles of ZnO and CuO hydrogels suggest their tailored use based on wound microbial composition, with CuO hydrogels excelling in antibacterial applications and ZnO hydrogels showing potential for antifungal treatments. These results underscore the potential of nanoparticle-based collagen hydrogels as innovative therapeutic tools for managing chronic wounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/3/91hydrothermal synthesisZnO nanoparticlesCuO nanoparticlescollagen hydrogelspecific antimicrobial properties |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă Mihai Alexandru Minculescu Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu Ariana Hudiță Alina Maria Holban Adina Alberts Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management Journal of Functional Biomaterials hydrothermal synthesis ZnO nanoparticles CuO nanoparticles collagen hydrogel specific antimicrobial properties |
| title | Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management |
| title_full | Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management |
| title_fullStr | Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management |
| title_short | Nanoparticle-Enhanced Collagen Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Management |
| title_sort | nanoparticle enhanced collagen hydrogels for chronic wound management |
| topic | hydrothermal synthesis ZnO nanoparticles CuO nanoparticles collagen hydrogel specific antimicrobial properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/3/91 |
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