Development of Alginate/Carboxymethylcellulose Films Incorporated with Canavalia ensiformis Lectin (ConA) with Angiogenic Properties

TL;DR

This paper describes creating wound healing films using alginate and carboxymethylcellulose with a lectin that promotes blood vessel growth.

Contribution

The novel contribution is incorporating Canavalia ensiformis lectin into biopolymer films to enhance angiogenesis for wound healing.

Findings

Alginate/CMC films with ConA showed reduced water retention and easier volatilization.

FTIR analysis indicated ConA anchoring in the alginate matrix with minimal chemical interactions.

Hemagglutinating and immunohistochemical assays showed increased TGF-β and VEGF expression.

Abstract

The development of new materials for wound care is a
critical area,
focused on creating dressings with improved properties, such as high
absorption, flexibility, and low cost. In this context, natural polymers
such as alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) emerge as promising
choices, given their biodegradability and their ability to promote
an ideal healing environment. Concomitantly, lectins with angiogenic
potential have been extensively investigated for their ability to
modulate cellular responses and induce the formation of new blood
vessels. This research aims to incorporate the lectin from Canavalia ensiformis (ConA) into alginate and carboxymethylcellulose
(CMC) films to promote blood vessel growth and induce revascularization
as a therapeutic approach. Film characterization and physicochemical
tests showed efficient lectin/film incorporation, as observed through
differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and Fourier-transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). DSC analysis showed that alginate/CMC
films with ConA tend to retain less water, volatilizing more easily,
with a temperature difference of 94 and 81 °C to 69 and 77 °C
films containing ConA. In addition to the significantly prolonged
retention capacity of ConA in the film, FTIR data suggest that ConA
is anchored in the alginate matrix due to the cross-linked nature
of the film chain, with minimal chemical interactions (or chemical
bonds). Analysis of hemagglutinating activity and immunohistochemical
assays showed an increase in the expression of the angiogenic factors
TGF-β and VEGF. These results indicate that the biopolymers
used are an effective alternative for wound treatment, pointing to
future research into the development of therapeutic biofilms.

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