Novel hybrid scaffold for improving the wound repair process: evaluation of combined chitosan/eggshell/vitamin D scaffold for wound healing

The current design requirement of cutaneous wound healing is an ideal wound dressing via biodegradable property through which fibroblasts can support, migrate and proliferate. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the synthesized hybrid scaffold based on chitosan polymer and a natural source of calcium (Ca) and vitamin D on wound healing. To achieve this purpose, three scaffolds include in chitosan (CS), eggshell + chitosan (ES/CS) and chitosan + eggshell + vitamin D (CS/ES/Vit D) were fabricated using the freeze-drying approach. Synthesized scaffolds were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and MTT assay. Histological examinations of the wound healing were performed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining methods on different days in the rat full-thickness skin wound model. Finally, the effect of the synthesized scaffold was evaluated on the TGF-beta 1 gene expression. The results of the scaffold characterization showed that scaffolds have the homogeneity structure. The MTT assay indicated that the cultured fibroblasts on the ES/CS and Vit D/ES/CS scaffold had viability higher than those cultured on CS. Also, histological studies demonstrated an increased effect on epithelialization and collagen production and accelerated wound healing using designed scaffolds. The TGF-beta 1 gene expression in all scaffolds was not significantly different between test groups and controls. In general, it can be concluded that the synthesized scaffolds have the potential to accelerate wound healing and can be used as a suitable scaffold in wound management and skin regeneration.