Reduced Graphene Oxide Incorporated GELMA Hydrogel Promotes Angiogenesis for Wound Healing Applications

Abstract

Non-healing or slow healing of chronic wounds is among the serious complications of diabetes. The decrease in blood supply due to lack of angiogenesis leads to reduced supply of oxygen, nutrients and growth factors resulting in decreased proliferation and migration of endothelial cells involved in formation of blood vessels. The absence of vascular network also decreases the number of fibroblasts and keratinocyte cells in wounded area and therefore results in low collagen deposition in diabetic wounds. In this study, we report the development of rGO nanoparticles impregnated GelMa hydrogels where rGO nanoparticles were used for enhancing angiogenesis and GelMa hydrogel was applied for promoting the growth of tissue forming cells for wound healing applications. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) based hydrogels loaded with different concentration of rGO nanoparticles were synthesized by UV crosslinking. Characterization of rGO incorporated GelMA hydrogel retained excellent porous structure and hydrophilic properties (porosity, degradation, and swelling). In vitro cytotoxicity studies (Live/Dead and MTT assays), using three different cell lines, confirmed that the hydrogels are biocompatible. The GelMA hydrogel containing 2% rGO enhanced the proliferation of the cells (fibroblasts, Endothelial cells, Keratinocytes) and significant wound healing was observed in wound healing scratch assay. In vivo using the chick chorioallantoic membrane model showed that the presence of rGO in the GelMA hydrogel significantly enhanced angiogenesis.