Evaluation of Keratin/Bacterial Cellulose Based Scaffolds as Potential Burned Wound Dressing

The study presents the preparation and characterization of new scaffolds based on bacterial cellulose and keratin hydrogel which were seeded with adipose stem cells. The bacterial cellulose was obtained by developing an Acetobacter xylinum culture and was visualized using SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and elementally determined through EDAX (dispersive X-ray analysis) tests. Keratin species (β–keratose and γ-keratose) was extracted by hydrolytic degradation from non-dyed human hair. SEM, EDAX and conductometric titration tests were performed for physical–chemical and morphological evaluation. Cytocompatibility tests performed in vitro confirmed the material non-toxic effect on cells. The scaffolds, with and without stem cells, were grafted on the burned wounds on the rabbit’s dorsal region and the grafts were monitored for 21 days after the application on the wounds. The clinical monitoring of the grafts and the histopathological examination demonstrated the regenerative potential of the bacterial cellulose–keratin scaffolds, under the test conditions.