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Presently, notwithstanding the progress regarding wound-healing management, the treatment of the majority of skin lesions still represents a serious challenge for biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, the attention of the researchers has turned to the development of novel materials based on cellulose derivatives. Cellulose derivatives are semi-synthetic biopolymers, which exhibit high solubility in water and represent an advantageous alternative to water-insoluble cellulose. These biopolymers possess excellent properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, sustainability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, thermo-gelling behavior, mechanical strength, abundance, low costs, antibacterial effect, and high hydrophilicity. They have an efficient ability to absorb and retain a large quantity of wound exudates in the interstitial sites of their networks and can maintain optimal local moisture. Cellulose derivatives also represent a proper scaffold to incorporate various bioactive agents with beneficial therapeutic effects on skin tissue restoration. Due to these suitable and versatile characteristics, cellulose derivatives are attractive and captivating materials for wound-healing applications. This review presents an extensive overview of recent research regarding promising cellulose derivatives-based materials for the development of multiple biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, such as wound dressings, drug delivery devices, and tissue engineering.

Myrtus communis L. is one of the important aromatic and medicinal species from the Mediterranean area. It is used in various fields such as culinary, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and industrial applications. Thus, a Box–Wilson experimental plan was used in this study to select the optimal operating conditions in order to obtain high volumes of essential oils. The factorial design method was applied to evaluate at an industrial scale the effect of major process variables on the essential oil extraction from Myrtus communis L. herbs by the steam distillation method. The input variables considered as significant operating conditions were: X1—boiler occupancy rate (boilers were filled to 50%, 75%, and 100%), X2—distillation duration (distillation was continued 60, 75, and 90 min), and X3—particle size (herbs were cut in sizes of 10, 20, and 30 mm via guillotine). The dependent variable selected, coded as Y, was the essential oil volume obtained (mL). The steps of the classical statistical experimental design technique were complemented with the Taguchi method to improve the extraction efficacy of essential oil from Myrtus communis L., and the optimum parameter conditions were selected: boiler occupancy rate 100%, distillation duration 75 min, and particle size 20 mm. Following the optimum parameters, the GC-MS assay revealed for the Myrtus communis L. essential oil two predominant components, α-pinene—33.14% and eucalyptol—55.09%.

This Special Issue, ‘Development of Specific Dosage Form: Wound Dressing’, highlights the current progress in the development of modern wound dressings, indicating how dynamic and challenging this field remains [...]

: Interest in advanced wound dressings for clinical applications is increasing, with biopolymer-based formulations emerging as an effective strategy for wound management. : This study aimed to develop and characterize sponge-like biopolymeric matrices for the topical delivery of indomethacin as a model anti-inflammatory drug. : Matrices were prepared by combining collagen and methylcellulose (MC) gels in varying ratios, followed by lyophilization. Physicochemical characterization included FT-IR, SEM, contact angle, and water absorption analysis. Biological evaluation involved enzymatic degradation, while biopharmaceutical and pharmacological assessments included in vitro drug release and in vivo testing in Wistar rats with experimentally induced burns. : FT-IR analysis confirmed that collagen's triple-helical structure was preserved in the presence of MC and indomethacin for the samples with maximum 25% methylcellulose. SEM analysis revealed a microporous network with integrated cellulose fibers, where pore size decreased with higher MC content. Compressive strength measurements demonstrated enhanced mechanical resistance with increasing MC content, indicating improved structural stability of the matrices. Moreover, increased MC content led to higher contact angle values but maintained hydrophilicity, while formulations with up to 25% MC exhibited good absorption capacity and structural integrity. Enzymatic degradation studies confirmed that matrices with at least 75% collagen content maintained their structural integrity over time, favoring prolonged application and sustained drug delivery. In vitro drug release followed a biphasic profile, supporting rapid initial anti-inflammatory action followed by gradual release of the drug. In vivo animal studies demonstrated accelerated wound healing in treated rats for all tested matrices. : Overall, the developed indomethacin-loaded biopolymeric matrices showed promising structural, functional, and therapeutic properties for effective wound treatment.

The aim of this study is to design, develop and evaluate new biohybrid sponges based on polymers (collagen and polyvinyl alcohol) with and without indomethacin as anti-inflammatory drug model to be used for tissue regeneration in wound healing. Type I fibrillar collagen in the form of a gel and different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol were mixed together to prepare composite gels. Both control samples, without indomethacin and with indomethacin, were obtained. All samples were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. By freeze-drying of hydrogels, the spongious forms (matrices) were obtained. The matrices were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water absorption, enzymatic degradation and in vitro indomethacin release. The pharmacological effect of the spongious biohybrid matrices was determined on an experimental model of burns induced to Wistar rats. The SEM images showed a porous structure with interconnected pores. Collagen sponges present a structure with pore sizes between 20 and 200 µm, which became more and more compact with polyvinyl alcohol addition. The FT-IR showed interactions between collagen and polyvinyl alcohol. The enzymatic degradation indicated that the most stable matrix is the one with the ratio 75:25 of collagen:polyvinyl alcohol (ACI75), the other ones being degradable in time. The kinetic data of indomethacin release from matrices were fitted with different kinetic models and highlighted a biphasic release of the drug. Such kinetic profiles are targeted in skin wound healing for which important aspects are impaired inflammation and local pain. The treatment with sponges associated with anti-inflammatory drug had beneficial effects on the healing process in experimentally induced burns compared to the corresponding matrices without indomethacin and the classical treated control group.

Osseointegration in dental implants involves the use of materials that mimic the bone tissue, with special properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, we describe the preparation and characterization of composites based on collagen, chondroitin sulfate, and sage oil obtained by freeze-drying method. Their morphological structures were determined by water uptake and scanning electron microscopy, the physical–chemical interactions between components by FT-IR, the stability by in vitro collagenase degradation, and the results indicate that the samples’ properties are highly influenced by the hydrophobic and hydrophilic character of sage essential oil and chondroitin sulfate, respectively, concluding that we can design a formulation with certain properties. The composite spongious forms were evaluated for cytocompatibility using the MG63 osteoblast cell line and subjected to histological observation. The results showed that the samples with sage essential oil were most resistant to enzymatic degradation, and the ones with chondroitin sulfate promoted the deposition of an abundant extracellular matrix. Taken together, the results suggest that incorporating chondroitin sulfate and sage oil in a controlled manner into collagen scaffolds represents a promising approach for enhancing bone tissue regeneration.

Mucosal drug delivery is gaining attention for its ability to provide localized treatment with reduced systemic side effects. The vaginal route has been proven effective for managing gynecological conditions, though it poses certain limitations. Biopolymers can help overcome these challenges by enhancing therapeutic efficiency and offering beneficial properties. This study aimed to develop and evaluate hydrogels and their freeze-dried forms (wafers) based on collagen, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and gellan gum. Initially, a collagen gel was obtained by extraction from calfskin, which was brought to a concentration of 1% and a physiological pH with 1 M sodium hydroxide solution. This gel was combined with either 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gel, 1.2% gellan gum gel, or both, in different proportions. Thus, five mixed hydrogels were obtained, which, along with the three individual gels (controls), were lyophilized to obtain wafers. Furthermore, the hydrogels were assessed for rheological behavior, while the collagen structural integrity in the presence of the other biopolymers was evaluated using circular dichroism and FT-IR spectroscopy. The wafers were characterized for morphology, wettability, swelling capacity, enzymatic degradation resistance, and in vitro biocompatibility. All hydrogels exhibited non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior and showed collagen structure preservation. The wafers’ characterization showed that gellan gum enhanced the hydrophilicity and enzymatic stability of the samples. In addition, the extracts from the tested samples maintained cell viability and did not affect actin cytoskeleton morphology, indicating a lack of cytotoxic effects. This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating both the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of biopolymeric supports as a key preliminary step in the development of vaginal drug delivery platforms with biomedical applications in the management of gynecological conditions.

Many research studies are directed toward developing safe and efficient collagen-based biomaterials as carriers for drug delivery systems. This article presents a comparative study of the properties of new collagen sponges prepared and characterized by different methods intended for biomedical applications. The structural integrity is one of the main properties for a biomaterial in order for it to be easily removed from the treated area. Thus, the effect of combining a natural polymer such as collagen with an antimicrobial drug such as oxytetracycline or doxycycline and glutaraldehyde as the chemical cross-linking agent influences the cross-linking degree of the material, which is in direct relation to its resistance to collagenase digestion, the drug kinetic release profile, and in vitro biocompatibility. The enzymatic degradation results identified oxytetracycline as the best inhibitor of collagenase when the collagen sponge was cross-linked with 0.5% glutaraldehyde. The drug release kinetics revealed an extended release of the antibiotic for oxytetracycline-loaded collagen sponges compared with doxycycline-loaded collagen sponges. Considering the behavior of differently prepared sponges, the collagen sponge with oxytetracycline and 0.5% glutaraldehyde could represent a viable polymeric support for the prevention/treatment of infections at the application site, favoring tissue regeneration.

Compared to the classical systemic administration, the local drug release has some advantages, such as lack of systemic toxicity and associated side effects, increased patient compliance, and a low rate of bacterial resistance. Biopolymers are widely used to design sustained drug delivery systems and biomaterials for tissue engineering. Type II collagen is the indispensable component in articular cartilage and plays a critical role in the growth and proliferation process of chondrocytes. Thus, type II collagen has drawn more attention and interest in the treatment and research of the cartilage regeneration. The aim of this study was to obtain, characterize, and optimize the microcapsules formulation based on type II collagen, sodium alginate, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose loaded with doxycycline as an antibiotic model drug that could be incorporated further in hydrogels to improve the localized therapy of septic arthritis. The new synthesized microcapsules were assessed by spectral (FT-IR), morphological (optical microscopy), and biological analysis (enzymatic biodegradation, antimicrobial activity). The size distribution of the obtained microcapsules was determined using optical microscopy. The drug encapsulation efficiency was also determined. To optimize the microcapsules’ composition, some physical-chemical and biological analyses were subjected to an optimization technique based on experimental design, response surface methodology, and the Taguchi technique, and the adequate formulations were selected. The results obtained recommend these new microcapsules as promising drug systems to be further incorporated in type II collagen hydrogels used for septic arthritis.

Yeast (including brewing yeast) and yeast-based preparations derived from bioprocesses or agroindustrial byproducts represent valuable feed additives and ingredients for ruminants. The optimization of brewing yeast biotechnological processing through fermentation mediated by the brewing yeast strain Saccharomyces pastorianus ssp. carlsbergensis W34/70 was investigated. The cultivation conditions (temperature, pH, carbon source, and nitrogen source) were selected and designed according to a Taguchi fractional experimental plan, with four factors on three levels, and their influence on the evolution of the bioprocess of obtaining the brewing yeast biomass was evaluated. The dependent variables were the yeast biomass amount in wet form, yeast biomass amount in dried form after lyophilization, dried yeast biomass wettability assayed through the contact angle (CA), protein content (PC), and dry matter content (DS). The effects that the experimental conditions had on the system responses were visualized in tridimensional space using the response surface methodology, and the combination of biotechnological parameters that ensured process quality and robustness was then determined using the Taguchi technique through its performance indicator, i.e., the signal-to-noise ratio. By optimizing the biotechnological parameters, this study provides a valuable contribution in the area of brewing yeast biomass processing, with the aim of producing probiotic yeast for ruminant nutrition.