Titanium dioxide nanowires and reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite coated gellan gum film for drug delivery to enhance skin regeneration

This study aimed to fabricate a titanium dioxide nanowires and reduced graphene oxide (TiO2NWs+RGO) nanocomposite coated with gellan gum film (TiO2NWs+RGO@GG) for drug delivery to enhance wound healing applications. First, the TiO2NWs+RGO nanocomposite was synthesised using a single-step hydrothermal method. Subsequently, a comprehensive physicochemical characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The characteristic peak for Ti–O–Ti bonds was observed in the FTIR spectrum between 500 and 850 cm⁻¹. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) through the characteristic of aromatic RGO at 2theta of ~25˚. Notably, the intensity of the RGO peak was reduced in the TiO2NWs@RGO composite, indicating successful oxygen functional group reduction. SEM analysis revealed an average diameter of approximately 12.26 ± 1.83 nm for the TiO2 nanowires within the composite. Antioxidant activity of the synthesised TiO2NWs+RGO (1:0.5) nanocomposite shows the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging testing. It was observed that TiO2NWs+RGO@GG film exhibited good drug release properties, with ibuprofen being released over a duration of 24 hours. The in vitro scratch assays demonstrated that the TiO2NWs+RGO@GG promotes cell proliferation and migration, facilitating wound closure within 24 hours. Collectively, these findings suggest that the TiO2NWs+RGO@GG film possess promising properties for wound healing applications.