Microwave-assisted hydrothermal green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles incorporated with hyaluronic acid methacrylate/gelatin methacrylate hydrogels for wound healing applications

Wound healing is a topic of significant interest in current times, owing to the escalating incidence of chronic diseases associated with impaired healing, as well as the growing number of elderly individuals within the population. Amongst the various approaches for fabrication of wound healing dressings, the utilization of selenium-based nanoparticles has garnered considerable attention due to selenium's numerous advantages, including antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. With this perspective, we focused on the fabrication and characterization of hydrogels incorporated with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). In this work, we have developed a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis strategy for synthesis of the SeNPs that employ non-toxic precursors, thereby reducing the risk of environmental toxicity and providing a cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical and hydrothermal methods. Subsequently, we have successfully incorporated SeNPs into hyaluronic acid methacrylate/gelatin methacrylate-based hydrogels. Hyaluronic acid and gelatin are selected to support the healing process further, and these polymers are methacrylated in order to further control mechanical properties of the hydrogel and improve the stability of the dressing. The nanoparticles and the nanoparticle-incorporated hydrogels were characterized by various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering instruments. Mechanical behaviors, swelling and degradation properties of the dressings were evaluated. Afterwards, we have conducted cell culture studies with SeNPs-loaded hydrogels to determine the efficacy of SeNPs in wound healing. According to experimental findings, in vitro scratch assay suggests that a hydrogel dressing containing SeNPs (HG-SeNp2) support the cell migration more compared to other samples incorporated with nanoparticles and to the control study at 24 h, and the wound closure percentage was found to be statistically significant compared with the control study. This dressing hold promise as effective wound dressings that can facilitate and expedite the process of wound healing.