Mequinol-loaded carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan electrospun wound dressing as a potential candidate to treat diabetic wounds

In the current study, we aimed to develop a drug-delivery wound dressing by incorporation of mequinol into the matrix of electrospun chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based scaffolds. Mequinol was added to the chitosan/CMC solution at three different concentrations of 0.3% w/w, 0.6% w/w, and 0.9% w/w and then electrospun. The physicochemical and biological properties of electrospun scaffolds were studied. Cell culture studies revealed that the dressings containing 0.3% drug had the highest cell viability and protection against oxidative stress. Wound healing assay and in vitro characterization experiments were performed on this formulation. In vitro studies showed that the incorporation of mequinol into the matrix of electrospun scaffolds significantly improved their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Wound healing assay showed that chitosan/CMC/0.3% mequinol wound dressings had significantly higher rate of wound size reduction, epithelial thickness, and tissue repair compared with drug-free scaffolds and negative control group. Gene expression analysis showed that the wounds treated with chitosan/CMC/0.3% mequinol scaffolds decreased the tissue expression level of glutathione peroxidase, TNF-a, and IL-1β genes. This study suggests potential use of the proposed wound dressings for the treatment of diabetic wounds in the clinic. Graphical abstract