Development of Hydrogel-Cellulose Nanofiber Hybrid Scaffolds for Potential Cutaneous Wound-Healing Applications
- 1United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
- 2Obatala Sciences Inc., New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
Abstract
Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNFs) are hydrated, high-aspect-ratio biomaterials with tunable physicochemical properties, whereas human-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels provide matrix-associated biochemical cues. In this study, CNF- and TOCNF-based hybrid scaffolds incorporating human ECM hydrogel components were developed and evaluated in vitro as platforms relevant to cutaneous wound repair. Hybrid formulations gelled at physiological temperature and exhibited formulation-dependent shear-thinning behavior, elastic properties, protein release/leaching profiles, and porous fibrillar microstructures. Selected formulations supported cell-associated metabolic activity of human dermal fibroblasts and adipose-derived stromal/stem cells under two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture conditions. Additional exploratory studies demonstrated qualitative compatibility with adipogenic culture and condition-dependent changes in wound-gap width. In the absence of in vivo validation and confirmatory biological assays, these findings are interpreted as proof-of-concept rather than evidence of wound-healing efficacy. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of combining CNF or TOCNF structural networks with human-derived ECM hydrogels to generate hybrid scaffolds with wound-relevant material properties and preliminary cytocompatibility, supporting further mechanistic and preclinical evaluation.
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BibTeX
@article{edwards2026development,
title = {{Development of Hydrogel-Cellulose Nanofiber Hybrid Scaffolds for Potential Cutaneous Wound-Healing Applications}},
author = {Judson. V. Edwards and Nicolette T. Prevost and Haley Lassiter and Katie Hamel and Michael W. Easson and Jacobs H. Jordan and Emma Rogers and Jordan Robinson and Trivia Frazier and Cecilia G. Sanchez},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219650},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9650},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Development of Hydrogel-Cellulose Nanofiber Hybrid Scaffolds for Potential Cutaneous Wound-Healing Applications
AU - Judson. V. Edwards
AU - Nicolette T. Prevost
AU - Haley Lassiter
AU - Katie Hamel
AU - Michael W. Easson
AU - Jacobs H. Jordan
AU - Emma Rogers
AU - Jordan Robinson
AU - Trivia Frazier
AU - Cecilia G. Sanchez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219650
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9650
AB - Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNFs) are hydrated, high-aspect-ratio biomaterials with tunable physicochemical properties, whereas human-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels provide matrix-associated biochemical cues. In this study, CNF- and TOCNF-based hybrid scaffolds incorporating human ECM hydrogel components were developed and evaluated in vitro as platforms relevant to cutaneous wound repair. Hybrid formulations gelled at physiological temperature and exhibited formulation-dependent shear-thinning behavior, elastic properties, protein release/leaching profiles, and porous fibrillar microstructures. Selected formulations supported cell-associated metabolic activity of human dermal fibroblasts and adipose-derived stromal/stem cells under two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture conditions. Additional exploratory studies demonstrated qualitative compatibility with adipogenic culture and condition-dependent changes in wound-gap width. In the absence of in vivo validation and confirmatory biological assays, these findings are interpreted as proof-of-concept rather than evidence of wound-healing efficacy. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of combining CNF or TOCNF structural networks with human-derived ECM hydrogels to generate hybrid scaffolds with wound-relevant material properties and preliminary cytocompatibility, supporting further mechanistic and preclinical evaluation.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -