Gold nanoparticle/silk fibroin-based nanofiber enhances skin regeneration.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the wound-healing potential of gold nanoparticles and silk fibroin-based nanofiber produced by green chemistry.

Methods: The electrospinning method was used to prepare the nanofiber. Twenty rats were exposed to a 7-day treatment period and another 20 rats were exposed to a 21-day treatment period. Rat groups were control, silver, silk fibroin, and silk + gold nanoparticle groups for each period. The effect of the gold nanoparticle/silk fibroin-based nanofiber was examined in skin samples by using biochemical and histological analysis. In biochemical analysis, skin oxidant and antioxidant parameters were determined.

Key findings: Parameters indicating skin damage returned to their previous levels 7 and 21 days after the wound formation using gold nanoparticle/silk fibroin-based nanofiber. Gold nanoparticle/silk fibroin-based nanofiber initiated hair follicle formation at the wound site and accelerated the re-epithelialization process.

Conclusions: It was found that the nanofiber prepared by adding gold nanoparticles to silk fibroin had better wound-healing properties than silk fibroin nanofibers without gold nanoparticles.