Development of a two-dimensional peptide functionalized-reduced graphene oxide biomaterial for wound care applications

Abstract

Increased incidences of antibiotic resistance has necessitated the development of novel wound disinfection strategies with minimal risk of resistance development. This study aimed at developing a biocompatible wound dressing biomaterial having the potential to treat acute and chronic wounds infested with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A multifunctional antibacterial nano conjugate was synthesized by covalently coupling a synthetically designed peptide (DP1 i.e., RFGRFLRKILRFLKK) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The conjugate displayed antibacterial as well as antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In vitro studies demonstrate 94 % hemocompatibility of the nano conjugate even at concentrations as high as 512 µg/mL. Cytotoxicity study on 3T3- L1 cells showed 95% cell viability signifying biocompatibility. Owing to these properties, biomedical applicability of the nano conjugate was assessed as an antibacterial wound dressing agent. rGO-DP1 loaded wound dressing exhibited enhanced reduction in bacterial bioburden (6 log10 CFU) along with a potential of wound re-epithelization (77.3 %) compared to uncoated bandage. Also, an improvement in the material properties of the bandage was observed in terms of enhanced tensile strength and decreased elongation at break (%). Collectively, these findings suggest that rGO-DP1 is an effective biomaterial that when loaded on wound dressings has the potential to be used as a facile, sustainable and progressive agent for bacterial wound disinfection as well as healing.