Wound healing evaluation of chitin Nanowhisker-reinforced silk Sericin/polyvinyl alcohol films incorporating Curcuma longa extract

This research explores the development and characterization of chitin nanowhiskers-strengthened wound dressing films composed of silk sericin and Polyvinyl alcohol, enriched with Curcuma longa extract. The maintenance of a moist wound environment to combat any infections at the wounded region, with the aid of a wound dressing possessing adequate mechanical strength, is inevitable. To address this, biocompatible and flexible films of silk sericin and Polyvinyl alcohol were reinforced with chitin nanowhiskers to enhance mechanical stability, while Curcuma longa extract, rich in curcuminoids, was incorporated as a therapeutic agent for reducing inflammation and imparting a soothing effect at the wound site. The study focuses on evaluating the physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of these polymer composite films prepared using the solution casting method, including water absorption ability, tensile strength, in vitro cytocompatibility, and wound healing potential. In-vitro cytocompatibility studies using L929 fibroblast cells showed 98.3 ± 0.98% cell viability, confirming the non-cytotoxic nature of the films. The prepared polymer composite films exhibited water absorption ability values varying from 128.6 ± 0.58% to 122.0 ± 1.0% suitable for maintaining a moist wound environment. Furthermore, in an enzymatic degradation study using lysozyme, the polymer film with the highest chitin nanowhisker concentration exhibited controlled biodegradation of 58.8 ± 0.03% and 44.8 ± 1.13% for the control after 14 days, suitable for wound healing applications. This research demonstrates the potential of these multi-component films to be a foundation for cutting-edge wound dressing materials, offering a synergistic approach to hasten wound healing.