Hydrogel containing (1 → 6)-β-D-glucan (lasiodiplodan) effectively promotes dermal wound healing Candida Nissola a , Marcelo Luis Kuhn Marchioro b , Eneri Vieira de Souza Leite Mello c , Ana Carolina Guidi d , Daniela Cristina de Medeiros d , Camila Girotto da Silva d , João Carlos Palazzo de Mello d , Edimir Andrade Pereira b , Aneli M. Barbosa-Dekker e , Robert F.H. Dekker f , Mário A.A. Cunha a,b, ⁎ a Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Dois Vizinhos, CEP 85660-000 Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil b Departamento de Química, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Pato Branco, CEP 85503-390 Pato Branco, Paraná, Brazil c Departamento de Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, CEP 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil d Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Biologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, CEP 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil e Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, CEP 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil f Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Londrina, CEP 86036-370 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil abstract article info Article history: Received 15 October 2020 Received in revised form 23 April 2021 Accepted 25 April 2021 Available online 27 April 2021 Keywords: Lasiodiplodia theobromae MMPI Collagen synthesis Re-epithelialization Exopolysaccharide A hydrogel containing exocellular (1 → 6)-β-D-glucan (lasiodiplodan, LAS) was developed and its wound healing potential was evaluated. β-Glucans have attracted much interest by the cosmetic industry sector because of their bioactive and functional properties and in promoting skin health. In the present work an β-glucan was studied as a healing biomaterial that has not hitherto been reported in the scientific literature. LAS produced by the ascomy- cete Lasiodiplodia theobromae MMPI was used in the formulation of a healing hydrogel. Physicochemical and mi- crobiological quality parameters, antioxidant potential and stability of the formulation was evaluated. FTIR, thermal analysis and SEM techniques were also employed in the characterization. Wistar rats were used as a bi- ological model to investigate the wound healing potential. Histological analyses of cutaneous tissue from the dor- sal region were conducted after 4, 7, 10 and 14 days of treatment, and evaluated re-epithelialization, cell proliferation and collagen production. Physicochemical stability, microbiological quality and antioxidant poten- tial, especially in relation to its ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals were found. The hydrogel stimulated cell re- epithelialization and proliferation during all days of the treatment, and stimulated an increase of collagen fibers. Lasiodiplodan showed immunomodulatory activity in wound healing and this biomacromolecule could be an al- ternative compound in wound care. © 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. 1. Introduction Tissue regeneration is a fundamental physiological process to main- tain the integrity of the host in the face of accidental, chronic or surgical injuries. Chronic wounds and ulcers are a significant challenge to re- searchers and health-care professionals, and studies on wound care are very important and necessary due to the increased incidence and cost of medical care [1]. New proposals have emerged with the aim of acceler- ating healing, minimizing risks, complications and improving the patient's quality of life, in addition to reducing treatment costs [2,3]. In this context, the development of new effective products in the treatment of tissue injuries or wounds has been the subject of studies by research groups and pharmaceutical industries in different countries. Among the new emerging possibilities, hydrogels are highlighted, which have the potential to mimic the skin microenvironment and can be applied as a permanent or temporary dressing to aid in the regeneration and healing of the injured epidermis or dermis [4]. Hydrogels have biocompatibility, high water content, three-dimensional microporous structure, perme- ability to oxygen and nutrients, and elastic properties similar to tissue [5]. Recently, the incorporation of different biomaterials and nanostruc- tures into hydrogels has emerged in order to obtain multifunctional hydrogels with new beneficial properties for wound healing [6]. Some hydrogels have been incorporated with antimicrobial sub- stances such as the hydrogel prepared by coordinative cross-linking of multi-arm thiolated polyethylene glycol with silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) which has demonstrated antibacterial and angiogenic activity in vitro [7]. Silvestro et al. [8] developed bioactive films for the healing of wounds based on the polysaccharides chitosan and hyaluronic acid, and found that the adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis on both of these biopolymer matrices was significantly reduced compared to International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 183 (2021) xxx ⁎ Corresponding author at: Departamento de Química, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Pato Branco, CEP 85503-390 Pato Branco, Paraná, Brazil. E-mail address: mcunha@utfpr.edu.br (M.A.A. Cunha). BIOMAC-18420; No of Pages 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.04.169 0141-8130/© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal of Biological Macromolecules journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijbiomac Please cite this article as: C. Nissola, M.L.K. Marchioro, E.V. de Souza Leite Mello, et al., Hydrogel containing (1 → 6)-β-D-glucan (lasiodiplodan) effectively promotes dermal wound healing, , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.04.169