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Study of mechanical property and biocompatibility of graphene oxide/MEO2MA hydrogel scaffold for wound healing application

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Abstract

Wound healing is a complex biological process crucial for restoring tissue integrity and preventing infections. The development of advanced materials that facilitate and expedite the wound-healing process has been a focal point in biomedical research. In this study, we aimed to enhance the wound-healing potential of hydrogel scaffolds by incorporating graphene oxide and poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO2MA). Various masses of graphene oxide were added to MEO2MA hydrogels via free radical polymerisation. Comprehensive characterizations, encompassing mechanical properties, and biocompatibility assays, were conducted to evaluate the hydrogels’ suitability for wound healing. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the graphene oxide-based hydrogels exhibited a proper swelling degree and tensile strength, responding effectively to moisture conditions and adhesiveness for wound healing. Notably, the tensile strength significantly increased to 626 kPa in the graphene oxide hydrogels. Biocompatibility assessments revealed that the graphene oxide/MEO2MA hydrogels were non-toxic to human dermal fibroblast cell growth, with no significant difference in cell viability observed in the graphene oxide/MEO2MA hydrogel (H-HG) group. In a rat skin experiment, the wound-healing rate of the hydrogel incorporating graphene oxide surpassed that of the pristine hydrogel after a 15-day treatment, achieving over 95% wound closure in the H-HG group. The histopathological analysis further supported the efficacy of the H-HG hydrogel dressing in promoting more effective tissue regeneration. These results collectively highlight the potential of the graphene oxide/MEO2MA hydrogel scaffold as a promising dressing for medical applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Biomimicking and Engineering Lab (BEing2 Lab), Department of Mechanical and Electromechanical Engineering of National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, for supporting facilities to complete this research.

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, under grants NSTC 112-2221-E-110-034.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Electro-mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan

    Anh Hue Luong, Dwita Istiqomah & Wei-Chih Lin

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  1. Anh Hue Luong
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  2. Dwita Istiqomah
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  3. Wei-Chih Lin
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All authors have contributed equally to all aspects of this manuscript including experimental methodology, data analysis, writing draft, and editing. The authors have approved and agreed to the publication of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Wei-Chih Lin.

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Luong, A.H., Istiqomah, D. & Lin, WC. Study of mechanical property and biocompatibility of graphene oxide/MEO2MA hydrogel scaffold for wound healing application. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 14, 537–548 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-024-00349-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-024-00349-4

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