Acceleration of wound healing By PVA-PEG-MgO nanocomposite hydrogel with human epidermal growth factor

This study focuses on development of a nanocomposite hydrogel for wound healing purposes. Poly-vinyl alcohol and poly-ethylene glycol-4000 were used to fabricate the hydrogel, physically crosslinking through freeze-thaw method, and magnesium oxide nanoparticles were incoprorated onto them. Notably, the integration of these nanoparticles induced significant changes in the hydrogel's properties, leading to marked improvements in its swelling ratio, water content, and tensile strength. This, in conjunction with their intrinsic moisture retention ability and enhanced antibacterial efficacy, makes these hydrogel nanocomposites as highly promising candidates for wound healing applications. Also, the minimal leaching of nanoparticles from these films reduced the risk of metal accumulation on wounds. To evaluate their performance in wound contraction, assessments were conducted using a live Wister rat model. It was observed that both bare and unloaded hydrogels promoted cell proliferation, and addition of human epidermal growth factor exponentially accelerated the process.The hydrogel films demonstrated biocompatibility and stimulated cell growth. Various parameters, including wound size contraction, angiogenesis, and reconstruction of the damaged epithelial layer, were examined using microscopic methods to assess the rate of wound healing.