Biomimetic resveratrol-loaded sericin hydrogel: Augmented antimicrobial and wound healing potential in animal model

The development and advances in designing effective wound healing is a challenge encountered for ages. Recent studies have utilized sericin as an excellent wound healing biomaterial owing to properties such as inexpensive, naturally occurring, easily accessible, biocompatible, non-immunogenic and biodegradable. In the present research an attempt has been made to develop an efficient wound dressing with a blend composed of resveratrol incorporated into a hydrogel of chitosan, sericin and PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol). The incorporation of sericin and resveratrol in a hydrogel is a novel amalgamation, combined with the unique antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties of chitosan, projected to create a synergistic effect that significantly accelerates wound healing. The selected hydrogels exhibited a porous network, in vitro release of 72.18 +/- 1.23 % and suitable spreadability. Furthermore, the antimicrobial studies viz. agar diffusion, broth dilution and biofilm formation assay revealed significant potential of the hydrogel which was comparable to the marketed formulations (Betadine (R)). Additionally, the in vivo studies in wound excision model demonstrated significantly higher wound closure in animal groups treated with F2 gel when compared with toxic groups, and other treatment groups. Further the histopathological studies give auxiliary evidence of accelerated wound healing in terms of rapid reepithelization and collagen formation. The study showed that the prepared hydrogel can be a promising wound dressing for treating wounds.