Sponges of carboxymethyl chitosan grafted with collagen peptides for wound healing

Abstract

Burns are physically debilitating and potentially fatal injuries. Two marine biomaterials, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and collagen peptides (COP), have emerged as promising burn dressings. In this paper, sponges of carboxymethyl chitosan grafted with collagen peptide (CMC–COP) were prepared by covalent coupling and freeze drying. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were then used to characterize the prepared sponges. To evaluate the wound healing activity of the CMC–COP sponges, in vitro tests including cell viability scratch wound healing and scald wound healing experiments were performed in rabbits. Appearance studies revealed the porous nature of sponges and FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated the successful incorporation of COP into CMC. The in vitro scratch assay showed that treatment with CMC–COP sponges (at 100 µg/mL) had significant effects on scratch closure. For burn wounds treated with CMC–COP, regeneration of the epidermis and collagen fiber deposition was observed on day 7, with complete healing of the epidermis and wound on days 14 and 21, respectively. Based on the pathological examination by hematoxylin and eosinstaining, the CMC–COP group demonstrated pronounced wound healing efficiencies. These results confirmed that the CMC–COP treatment enhanced cell migration and promoted skin regeneration, thereby highlighting the potential application of these sponges in burn care.