Green Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Gelatin-Based Nanofibrous Membrane by Incorporating 45S5 Bioglass Nanoparticles and Urea for Wound Dressing Applications: Characterization and In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations.

This study reports the fabrication and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and gelatin (Gel)-based nanofiber membranes cross-linked with citric acid (CA) by a green electrospinning method in which nano 45S5 bioglass (BG) and urea were incorporated. Various combinations of PVA, gelatin, and BG were prepared, and nanofiber membranes with average fiber diameters between 238 and 595 nm were fabricated. Morphological, chemical, and mechanical properties, porosity, swelling, water retention, and water vapor transmission rate of the fabricated membranes were evaluated. PVA:Gel (90:10), 15% CA, and 3% BG were determined as the optimum blend for nanofiber membrane fabrication via electrospinning. The membrane obtained using this blend was further functionalized with 10% w/w polymer urea coating by the electrospray method following the cross-linking. In vitro biocompatibility tests revealed that the fabricated membranes were all biocompatible except for the one that functionalized with urea. In vivo macroscopic and histopathological analysis results of PVA/Gel/BG and PVA/Gel/BG/Urea treated wounds indicated increased collagenization and vascularization and had an anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, careful examination of the in vivo macroscopic results of the PVA/Gel/BG/Urea membrane indicated its potential to decrease uneven scar formation. In conclusion, developed PVA/Gel/BG and PVA/Gel/BG/Urea electrospun membranes with multifunctional and biomimetic features may have the potential to be used as beneficial wound dressings.

Eucalyptol regulates Nrf2 and NF-kB signaling and alleviates gentamicin-induced kidney injury in rats by downregulating oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is nowadays widely used in the treatment of gram-negative microorganisms. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities of eucalyptol, a type of saturated monoterpene, have been reported in many studies. The aim of this study was to examine the possible effects of eucalyptol on gentamicin-induced renal toxicity. A total of 32 rats were divided into 4 groups; Control (C), Eucalyptol (EUC), Gentamicin (GEN), and Gentamicin + Eucalyptol (GEN + EUC). In order to induce renal toxicity, 100 mg/kg gentamicin was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 10 consecutive days in the GEN and GEN + EUC groups. EUC and GEN + EUC groups were given 100 mg/kg orally of eucalyptol for 10 consecutive days. Afterwards, rats were euthanized and samples were taken and subjected to histopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and real-time PCR examinations. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) levels were significantly decreased in the GEN + EUC group (0.76 and 0.69-fold, respectively) compared to the GEN group. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly increased in the GEN + EUC group (1.35 and 2.67-fold, respectively) compared to the GEN group. In GEN group, Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß), Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Caspase-3, 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) expression levels were found to be quite irregular. GEN + EUC group decreased the expressions of NF-kB, IL-1ß, iNOS, TNF-α, Caspase-3, and 8-OHdG (0.55, 0.67, 0.54, 0.54, 0.63 and 0.67-fold, respectively), while it caused increased expression of Nrf2 (3.1 fold). In addition, eucalyptol treatment ameliorated the histopathological changes that occurred with gentamicin. The results of our study show that eucalyptol has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiapoptotic, nephroprotective, and curative effects on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.