Bilayer cellulose-coated hyaluronic acid-based scaffold for accelerating oral wound healing

Evidence supports that hyaluronic acid (HA) can promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation. This study aimed to assess the effects of a bilayered cellulose-coated HA scaffold on oral wound healing. A film-type 3% HA scaffold with bilayer cellulose coating was prepared and compared with an HA scaffold without coating. To evaluate cytocompatibility, human gingival fibroblasts were exposed to both scaffolds, and cell viability, flow cytometry, and scratch wound assays were performed. In addition, in vivo and ex vivo wound-healing assays were performed. Cytocompatibility tests showed no cytotoxicity for either HA scaffold. The scratch wound assay revealed a significant reduction in the open wound area in both HA scaffolds compared with that in the control (p < 0.05); however, no differences were observed between the scaffolds with and without cellulose coating. In vivo wound healing analysis showed significantly higher healing rates on day 3 in the HA scaffolds than in the control (p < 0.05), with no significant differences between the scaffolds. HA scaffolds with coating showed lower CD68 and higher vimentin expression than the control (p < 0.05), whereas HA scaffolds without coating did not. Ex vivo wound healing analysis revealed significantly higher re-epithelialization rates in both scaffolds than in the control (p < 0.05). Within the limits of this study, the HA scaffold with coating showed enhanced wound healing efficacy, indicating its potential for oral wound healing applications.