Bioinnovative strategy for burn healing: nanocellulose and graphene oxide membrane associated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Introduction: The high prevalence of burns represents an important challenge for public health, both due to the high cost of its treatment and the continuous need to develop ideal, low-cost dressings capable of promoting faster and more effective healing. Objective: To evaluate the nanocellulose membrane enriched with graphene oxide and vascular endothelial growth factor in the healing of burns in rat skin. Method: A total of 36 adult male Wistar rats (Rattus novergicus albinus) were divided into a control group (C) and an experimental group (E). Each group was subdivided into two subgroups according to the dates of sacrifice (seven and 14 days). The parameters evaluated were macroscopy, wound contraction rate and histological aspects such as neutrophilic exudate, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, quantification of capillaries, fibroblasts and collagen fibers, scar depth and wound re-epithelialization. Result: At seven days, the rate of wound contraction did not differ between the groups, and at 14 days both showed similar progression over time. Angiogenesis showed slight superiority in the experimental group on the 7th day, becoming equivalent between the groups on the 14th day. Neutrophilic exudate was more evident in the control group in the initial period, while the experimental group showed a predominance of mild inflammatory response, a pattern that was maintained at 14 days. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate showed similar behavior between the groups in both periods evaluated. The fibroblasts amount was initially low in both groups, increasing comparably at 14 days. As for collagen, the experimental group showed greater fiber maturation in the late period, unlike the control, which remained with a predominance of immature fibers. Scar depth was greater in the control group on the seventh day, while the experimental group exhibited lesions more evenly distributed between superficial, intermediate, and deep. Conclusion: The nanocellulose membrane enriched with graphene oxide and VEGF has been shown to accelerate and improve burn healing in rats, favoring the adequate progression of the repair phases, with inflammatory modulation, angiogenic stimulation and better tissue organization. Its superior performance to control suggests translational potential as an advanced dressing, although additional studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms, safety, and clinical applicability.