title: Ultrashort peptide nanofibrous hydrogels for the acceleration of healing of burn wounds.
abstract: There is an unmet clinical need for wound dressings to treat partial thickness burns that damage the epidermis and dermis. An ideal dressing needs to prevent infection, maintain skin hydration to facilitate debridement of the necrotic tissue, and provide cues to enhance tissue regeneration. We developed a class of 'smart' peptide hydrogels, which fulfill these criteria. Our ultrashort aliphatic peptides have an innate tendency to self-assemble into helical fibers, forming biomimetic hydrogel scaffolds which are non-immunogenic and non-cytotoxic. These nanofibrous hydrogels accelerated wound closure in a rat model for partial thickness burns. Two peptide hydrogel candidates demonstrate earlier onset and completion of autolytic debridement, compared to Mepitel(®), a silicone-coated polyamide net used as standard-of-care. They also promote epithelial and dermal regeneration in the absence of exogenous growth factors, achieving 86.2% and 92.9% wound closure respectively, after 14 days. In comparison, only 62.8% of the burnt area is healed for wounds dressed with Mepitel(®). Since the rate of wound closure is inversely correlated with hypertrophic scar formation and infection risks, our peptide hydrogel technology fills a niche neglected by current treatment options. The regenerative properties can be further enhanced by incorporation of bioactive moieties such as growth factors and cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, #04-01, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yihua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.affiliation: Combat Care and Performance Laboratory, Defence Medical Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, 27 Medical Drive #12-01, Singapore 117510, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yong-Chiat
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Elijah Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chuan-Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ashvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, #04-01, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lakshmanan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, #04-01, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Alvin G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Biostatistic Unit, Dean's Office, Level 1, Block MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hui J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors.forename: Thiam-Chye
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Combat Care and Performance Laboratory, Defence Medical Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, 27 Medical Drive #12-01, Singapore 117510, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shabbir M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moochhala
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, #04-01, Singapore 138669, Singapore. Electronic address: chauser@ibn.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Charlotte A E
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides
keywords: Nanofibers; Partial thickness burns; Self-assembly; Ultrashort peptide hydrogels; Wound healing