Preparation, Characterization, and Optimization of Amnion Membrane Scaffold for Improved Wound Healing /

Abstract

The human amniotic membrane is a transparent, thin, and resilient tissue composing the innermost layer of the placenta during pregnancy, enriched in bioactive components, stem cells, and growth factors. Globally recognized, it finds extensive application in regenerative medicine, tissue repair, and wound healing, highlighting versatile therapeutic potential. This study devised a cost-effective method to decellularize the human amniotic membrane, highlighting its potential for effective wound healing in diverse therapeutic applications. The human amniotic membrane was decellularized using 0.5% of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) solution and characterized using Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) assay, Masson's trichrome staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). In the in-vivo experiment, a skin-wounded rat model was used to evaluate the healing activity of the amniotic membrane. The H&E staining results indicated the membrane is well-preserved and has intact structural integrity, particularly the basement membrane. The FTIR graphs revealed the presence of collagen which is effective in wound healing during treatment. This processed membrane showed antimicrobial activity against three bacterial strains, including E. coli, S. aureus, and B.subtilus. Rats treated with the decellularized amniotic membrane exhibited accelerated wound healing, the original wound size was 8 mm completely healed in our treated rats in 14 days, resulting in complete recovery leaving no scar behind in comparison to the control groups. Along with the healing of wounds, the fur of treated rats was also restored within 2 weeks. Based on our findings, the amniotic membrane decellularized with the proposed method has the potential to establish a favorable environment for cell growth and have a positive influence on the overall process of wound healing