Structure/function analysis of cotton-based peptide-cellulose conjugates: spatiotemporal/kinetic assessment of protease aerogels compared to nanocrystalline and paper cellulose

Authors: Edwards, Judson - Vince; Fontenot, Krystal; LIEBNER, FALK - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; DOYLE NEE PIRCHER, NICOLE - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; French, Alfred - Al; Condon, Brian

Submitted to: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2018
Publication Date: 3/13/2018
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Fontenot, K.R., Liebner, F., Doyle Nee Pircher, N., French, A.D., Condon, B.D. 2018. Structure/function analysis of cotton-based peptide-cellulose conjugates: spatiotemporal/kinetic assessment of protease aerogels compared to nanocrystalline and paper cellulose. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 19(840):1-16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030840.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19030840

Interpretive Summary: Previously we reported the on the preparation, characterization and activity of a peptide-cellulosic aerogel protease sensor prepared from a natural source of greige cotton fibers. In a separate study, we contrasted the molecular properties of a cotton-based nanocellulosic aerogel as a protease sensor material with a cotton based cellulosic filter paper and nanocellulosic crystals protease sensors and these concepts are treated in the context of the functionality of the material properties that target the pathology of the chronic wound. In this study, we evaluate the material properties of the cellulosic filter paper, nanocellulosic aerogel, and nanocellulosic crystals sensors treated from a perspective of characteristic features of compatibility that function at the dressing/wound interface. Therefore, we show how the differences and similarities in material properties and structure of these three different transducer surfaces play a role in protease sequestration, charge, and semi-occlusive dressing interface.

Technical Abstract: The growing incidence of chronic wounds in the world population has prompted increased interest in chronic wound dressings with protease-modulating activity and protease point of care sensors to treat and enable monitoring of elevated protease-based wound pathology. However, the overall design features needed for the combination of a chronic wound dressing that lowers protease activity along with protease detection capability as a single platform for semi-occlusive dressings has scarcely been addressed. The interface of dressing and sensor specific properties (porosity, permeability, moisture uptake properties, specific surface area, surface charge, and detection) relative to sensor bioactivity and protease sequestrant performance is explored here. Measurement of the material’s zeta potential demonstrated a correlation between negative charge and the ability of materials to bind positively charged Human Neutrophil Elastase. Peptide-cellulose conjugates as protease substrates prepared on a nanocellulosic aerogel were assessed for their compatibility with chronic wound dressing design. The porosity, wettability and absorption capacity of the nanocellulosic aerogel were consistent with values observed for semi-occlusive chronic wound dressing designs. The sensor sensitivity of the aerogel-based sensor is contrasted with current clinical studies on elastase. Taken together, comparative analysis of the influence of molecular features on the physical properties of three forms of cellulosic transducer surfaces provides a meaningful assessment of the interface compatibility of cellulose-based sensors and corresponding protease sequestrant materials for potential use in chronic wound sensor/dressing design platforms.