A sustainable approach to converting biowaste into functional nano-wound dressings

Skin tissue regeneration requires wound dressing materials that are mechanically stable, highly absorbent, and biocompatible. Natural biopolymers derived from renewable and waste resources offer a sustainable approach to developing advanced nano-wound materials with enhanced healing performance. Nano-wound materials (NWMs) were fabricated using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), nanofibrin (NF), and chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) through a film-casting technique. The developed NWMs were characterized using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). Mechanical properties, water absorption capacity, and biocompatibility were evaluated, with cytocompatibility assessed using MTT assays on NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. The NWMs exhibited excellent mechanical and physicochemical properties, with a tensile strength of 27.78 ± 0.46 MPa, elongation at break of 31.75 ± 0.64%, flexibility of 8.97 ± 0.91%, and water absorption of 45.71 ± 0.74%. Biocompatibility studies demonstrated high cytocompatibility, with approximately 98% cell viability observed in NIH/3T3 cells. The developed nano-wound materials demonstrated robust mechanical performance and excellent biocompatibility, indicating their suitability for skin wound-healing applications. Additionally, this study highlights a value-added and sustainable strategy for converting fish and slaughterhouse waste into functional, high-performance wound care materials.