Ascidian Derived Tunicine Hydrogel Patches for Enhanced Wound Healing

Rapid closure of tissue gaps during wound healing is crucial to restore the skin's barrier function, preventing infection and fluid loss. This involves a sophisticated process where cells at the wound migrate, proliferate, and differentiate to cover the ruptured area. This study investigates the potential of marine tunicate-derived tunicin (a cellulose-protein complex)-based scaffolds from poriferans for enhanced drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Specifically, <i>Phallusia nigra</i> stands out due to its renewable source of unique 3D nanocellulosic-protein hydrogel scaffolds. These scaffolds are easily prepared, maintain excellent shape-retention properties at physiological conditions, and are suitable for <i>in vivo</i> applications. Our findings show that tunicin scaffolds are cytocompatible, supporting human fibroblast cell attachment, growth, and proliferation in vitro. After seven days of cultivation on the scaffolds, fibroblasts exhibited a two-fold increase in metabolic activity, indicating cell proliferation. Additionally, cells near the gaps in both control and test samples demonstrated actomyosin contractility, bridging the gaps within 30 hours of incubation. Animal studies demonstrated an accelerated recovery rate compared to traditional wound care methods, with observable healing within a markedly shorter time frame. Moreover, applying the bioderived wound patch resulted in minimal inflammation markers, indicating a reduced inflammatory response and a favorable biocompatibility profile. These results highlight tunicate-derived tunicin as a novel and promising material for developing advanced wound-healing strategies.