Preparation of graphene oxide membrane-daptomycin/epidermal growth factor dressing and its effect on wound healing

Abstract Herein, a series of environmentally friendly dressings were specially fabricated from graphene oxide (GO) membrane (a high quality substrate with antibacterial function) and Daptomycin (antibacterial function)/Epidermal growth factor (EGF, wound healing function) for the purpose of antibacterial applications. A performance comparison was designed by employing four dressing samples, including the neat GO membrane (Group A), GO membrane-Daptomycin (Group B), GO membrane-EGF (Group C), and GO membrane-Daptomycin/EGF (Group D). The results analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that Daptomycin and EGF might be adhered to the GO membrane. The contact angle test showed that the hydrophilicity of material gradually increased from Group A to Group D. Groups B and D displayed similar in vitro antibacterial activities, better than those of Groups A and C (their antibacterial performances were similar to each other); all the four experimental groups outperformed the control group (P > 0.05). On the other hand, Groups C and D could promote the proliferation effectively within 1–7 days (P < 0.05), and they also showed similar activities in the cell migration, which were higher than those of Groups A and B (close to each other); all the experimental groups outdid the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, by monitoring the expression levels of PCNA and CD31 , samples from Group D could promote both angiogenesis and cell reproduction when covering the skin defects (P < 0.05). At the seventh days after the injury, the control and experimental groups of A, B, C, and D displayed healing rates of 40.6%, 53.0%, 66.8%, 60.1%, and 68.3%, respectively. Based on a successful fabrication of GO membrane-Daptomycin/EGF dressings, antibacterial effects as well as growth-promoting performance were well realized by samples in Group D. This is benifitial for the wound healing to a great extent.