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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Sep 18.
Published in final edited form as: Acta Biomater. 2018 Feb 7;70:35–47. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.01.045

Figure 9. Nanosilicates enhance VEGF release and promote wound healing.

Figure 9.

(a) Schematic representation of the scratch assay to test the wound healing potential of the κCA-nanosilicate hydrogels. VEGF released from the nanocomposite hydrogels promotes cell migration, thus promoting scratch wound healing. (b) Phase contrast images of human umbilical vein endothelial cells showing progressive wound healing up to 36 hours. The 1% κCA-2%nanosilicate/VEGF shows higher wound closure in comparison to 1% κCA or 1% κCA/2% nanosilicates. (c) Quantitative data for wound closure for 1% κCA, 1% κCA/2% nanosilicate and 1% κCA/2% nanosilicate/VEGF was determined. Almost complete wound closure was observed in 1% κCA/2% nanosilicate/VEGF after 36 hours in comparison to other groups. Positive control includes exposure of wound to 50ng/mL VEGF. Rapid wound closure in hydrogel groups is attributed to the sustained release of VEGF and the accelerated migration of HUVECs.