Freeze-dried collagen nanocomposite sponges loaded with nicaraven-incorporated gelatin nanofibers for excisional diabetic wound healing: In vitro and in vivo studies

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a frequent and severe complication of diabetes, leading to chronic wounds, infections, and even amputations. The treatment of DFUs poses a significant challenge to healthcare professionals, and therefore new therapeutic approaches are necessary. In the current research, nicaraven was loaded into gelatin nanofibers using the electrospinning method. Then, these fibers were crushed and dispersed in the matrix of a collagen hydrogel to prepare a nanocomposite sponge for diabetic wound healing applications. The produced scaffolds protected skin cells against oxidative stress and increased their migration activity. An in vivo study was performed in a rat model of diabetic wound. The study revealed that the sponges loaded with nicaraven accelerated the diabetic wound closure and improved tissue epithelialization and collagen deposition. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the tissue concentration levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha cytokines were significantly reduced in diabetic wounds treated with the nicaraven-loaded nanocomposite sponge.