# Enhanced wound healing through hydrogel: Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris in carboxymethyl cellulose/ carboxymethyl chitosan/gelatin matrix with decellularized amniotic membrane in male Wistar rats

## TL;DR

A new hydrogel using algae extracts and amniotic membranes improved wound healing in rats compared to traditional methods.

## Contribution

A novel hydrogel combining Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris with a decellularized amniotic membrane is introduced for wound healing.

## Key findings

- AP-loaded hydrogels showed faster degradation and higher release profile due to antioxidant properties.
- CV hydrogels achieved faster wound closure and better collagen synthesis in vivo.
- The combination of AP and CV in hydrogels showed synergistic effects with 92% wound closure.

## Abstract

Wound healing requires effective biomaterials to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments, especially for full-thickness injuries. This study introduces an innovative hydrogel composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), and gelatin (Gel), enhanced with extracts from Arthrospira platensis (AP) and Chlorella vulgaris (CV). The matrix is further integrated with decellularized amniotic membranes to enhance therapeutic effects.

Hydrogels were formulated, crosslinked using 1-Ethyl-3-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDAC), and incorporated with 1% of either AP, CV, or both extracts. The scaffold was subjected to in vitro cell viability, red blood cell hemolysis, blood clotting index, and in vivo assays. The physical and chemical properties of the scaffolds were also evaluated using weight loss, swelling ratio, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. To analyze wound healing under in vivo conditions, 36 male Wistar rats were used, and histopathological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

In vitro studies demonstrated that AP-loaded hydrogels exhibited faster degradation and a higher release profile (85.25%) compared to CV (68.32%), consistent with AP’s anti-oxidant properties. In vivo assessments on Wistar rats demonstrated that CV hydrogels achieved faster wound closure and better collagen synthesis, reaching 88 ± 2.5 % closure at 14 days versus 81 ± 2.64 % for AP (P<0.05). The CMC/CMCS/Gel/AP 1%/CV 1% hydrogels showed synergistic effects, achieving a 92 ± 2.1 % closure rate (P<0.01).

The hydrogels demonstrated strong potential for skin repair, exhibiting good biocompatibility and controlled release; further refinement of the extracts and materials is suggested.