Core-shell (polyethylene glycol/silk) scaffold containing microfluidic synthesis of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles as a wound healing agent in animal full-thickness injuries

Wounds refer to physical injuries in which the integrity of the skin or other body organs is disturbed. Wound care includes proper management and treatment of the injuries to promote healing while avoiding infection. Here, a core-shell scaffold is developed comprising polyethylene glycol/silk fibroin-chitosan nanoparticles loaded with curcumin. Chitosan nanoparticles and PEG/Silk fibrous scaffold were synthesized by a microfluidic system and electrospinning technique, respectively. TEM, DLS, and FTIR techniques were used to examine the nanoparticles; whereas nanofibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, and FTIR. Drug loading and release from nanoparticles and scaffolds were assessed by optical spectroscopy. MTT assay and hemolysis test were performed to examine the toxicity of the scaffolds. The hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of nanofibers was explored by the contact angle test. Scaffolds were examined on the full-thickness wound created on Wistar rats, followed by histological analyses and coagulation tests. The results of FTIR, TEM, and SEM indicated the proper distribution of nanoparticles and core-shell scaffold. The drug loading was about 3 %. About 80 % of the drug was released in the first 7 days. Scaffolds showed hydrophobic properties (114.63 degrees +/- 3.6) with no cytotoxicity. The proposed scaffold was able to close 94% of the wound era after 14 days in the animal model and positively affected re-epithelization and angiogenesis. Moreover, nanofibers containing chitosan nanoparticles exhibited a proper blood coagulation ability in the tail cut model. Finally, it was found that this scaffold, in addition to a biological dressing, can be considered as a drug delivery, and according to the results obtained, this dressing has hydrophobic properties and has also shown good performance against superficial bleeding coagulation. And it has not shown any cytotoxicity for red blood cells and mesenchymal stem cells.