Evaluation of Burn Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration in Animal Model Using Alginate/PVA Nanofibrous Wound Dressings Containing Dragon's Blood

Abstract

The challenge of healing burn wounds is significant importance in global healthcare systems, with a high demand for advanced wound dressings to aid in the treatment of such injuries. Promising options include bioactive electrospun scaffolds made from polymers with antimicrobial properties, which can prevent infections and promote faster healing. This study involved the creation of a nanofibrous scaffold using the electrospinning technique, which consisted of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), alginate (Alg), and Dragon's blood (DB). The scaffold was then analyzed for both its morphology and chemical composition. Results indicated that the DB was present in the nanofibrous scaffold, which had a uniform and unbranched appearance with fibers measuring approximately 300–400 nm in diameter. Additionally, mechanical property testing revealed promising results that fall within the range of human skin. The scaffold's wound healing potential was evaluated through various measurements, including water contact angle, drug release, water vapor permeability, blood compatibility, blood clotting index, and antibacterial activity. Results from an in vivo study on burn wounds showed that scaffolds containing 20% DB exhibited excellent wound healing ability with 80.3% wound closure after 21 days. This was attributed to the highest collagen synthesis, re-epithelization and remodeling of the burned skin. Therefore, PVA/Alg/DB nanofibrous scaffolds hold promise as a wound dressing to treat burn injuries.