RETRACTED: CONTROLLED RELEASE OF NANO-GRAPHENE OXIDE FOR POTENTIAL APPLICATION AS ANTIBACTERIAL WOUND DRESSINGS

Abstract

Background: Graphene and graphene-family have recently emerged as a shining star in biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug carrier applications due to their excellent properties, which could overcome the limitations of current hydrogel – based strategies and fulfill the requirements of antibacterial dressings for chronic wound healing.

Objective: To develop a feasible method to impregnate GO into genipin - crosslinked gelatin and control the GO particles released from nanocomposite hydrogel for application as antibacterial wound dressings.

Methods: GGO pre-hydrogel was crosslinked by different genipin (Gp) concentrations. The obtained nanocomposite hydrogels were evaluated by water absorption capacity, the in vitro studies of biocompatibility, antibacterial, wound healing. Furthermore, the GO release kinetics in accordance with the degradation rate of nanocomposite hydrogels were thoroughly investigated to estimate the potential application as chronic wound dressings.

Results: The GO release kinetics were depended on the crosslinking degrees and enzymatic levels following degradation rates. Most importantly, the released GO particles displayed uniformity and dispersity, retained the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa via their sharp edges and wrapping mechanisms, and promoted human fibroblasts migration.

Conclusion: We highly believe that the incorporation of GO into genipin crosslinked gelatin hydrogels will be a feasible strategy to develop a multifunctional wound dressing for the requirements of chronic wound healing.

Keywords: antibacterial, genipin, hydrogel, nano-graphene oxide, wound healing