A Novel Functionalization of Bioactive Antimicrobial Peptide onto the Nano-CeO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Cluster Type Biocomposite Wound Dressings for Diabetic Wound Care Management: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations

Diabetic wound ulcers and unhealed ulcerations have caused in severe difficulties of diabetic patients all around the world. The anti-microbial peptides (AMP) and nanomaterials have been demonstrated beneficial in diabetic wound healing studies. Diabetic wound healing process can be delayed significantly due to the infection issues. Hence in this report, biologically synthesized cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles incorporated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and AMP for effective and rapid diabetic wound healing have been reported. At first, reduced graphene oxide was prepared from graphene oxide to prepare CeO 2 /RGO nanocomposites. Biocompatible AMP (IP-1) functionalized CeO 2 /RGO nanocomposites were accordingly prepared to study the diabetic wound healing process. Rats, the wound healing models with the wound size of about 1.5 cm 2 were tested with the as-prepared samples. Further, the prepared samples were tested in a wound healing model of rate with the wound of size 1.5 cm 2 . Almost complete recovery of wounds i.e., 100% closure of wound area was observed after 2 weeks of treatment by the prepared samples. Biocompatible AMP (IP-1) functionalized CeO 2 /RGO nanocomposites enhances rapid keratinocytes proliferation by short time thereby it proves the enhanced ability of the prepared samples to act as a wound healing in-vivo drugs. HE and MTC staining protocols to illustrate histological observations elucidates the keratinocytes creation by biocompatible AMP (IP-1) functionalized CeO 2 /RGO nanocomposites.