Potential of extracellular vesicles from human Wharton’s jelly and golden berries (Physalis peruviana) combined with polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/fibroin hydrogel for wound healing: In vitro approaches on 1BR3 cell line: Original scientific article

Afrida Rizky Nurfajrin; Indra Wibowo; Anggraini Barlian

doi:10.5599/admet.3238

Authors

Afrida Rizky Nurfajrin Department of Biotechnology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4970-0079
Indra Wibowo Department of Biotechnology and Department of Biology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7197-2075
Anggraini Barlian Department of Biotechnology and Department of Biology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia and Scientific Imaging Center, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0826-3134

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5599/admet.3238

Keywords:

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles, mesenchymal stem cell, drug delivery, controlled release, fibroblast proliferation

Abstract

Background and purpose: The development of biocompatible delivery systems capable of enhancing wound healing remains a major challenge in drug delivery and regenerative medicine. Hydrogels represent promising wound dressings due to their ability to maintain a moist microenvironment, absorb exudates, and enable controlled release of bioactive agents. Recently, plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) have emerged as a novel, non-toxic, and cross-kingdom therapeutic modality. Experimental approach: In this study, we investigated PVA/chitosan/fibroin-based hydrogels as a delivery platform for PDENs isolated from Physalis peruviana (PENC), with human Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hWJ-MSC-Exo) used as a biological comparator. Key results: PENC and hWJ-MSC-Exo were isolated and characterized in terms of size, morphology, and protein content. Composite hydrogels containing chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and fibroin (4% and 10%) were fabricated via freeze–thawing and characterized for hydrophilicity, swelling behavior, water content, biodegradability, and protein release profiles. The biological performance of hydrogel-released media incorporating PDENs or hWJ-MSC-Exo was evaluated in vitro using human dermal fibroblast 1BR3 cells through cytotoxicity, proliferation, and scratch migration assays. The fabricated hydrogels exhibited hydrophilic surfaces (contact angle <90°), high swelling capacity (>100%), low water content, and gradual biodegradation over 10 days. Protein release peaked on day 3, indicating favorable release kinetics for bioactive delivery. All hydrogel formulations demonstrated good biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 75%. Notably, hydrogels loaded with PENC significantly promoted fibroblast proliferation and migration, with performance comparable to or exceeding that of hWJ-MSC-Exo-loaded hydrogels, particularly in fibroin-containing formulations. Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of Physalis peruviana-derived PDENs as a novel bioactive agent for wound healing and demonstrate that PVA/chitosan/fibroin hydrogels serve as an effective delivery platform to enhance their biological activity. This study supports the translational potential of PDEN-based hydrogel systems for future wound healing applications.

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