Vinca Extract Infused Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Treatment of Artificially Induced Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Murine Model

Diabetic foot ulcers are challenging to manage and require intensive treatment as they heal slowly and greatly affect quality of life due to reduced mobility, infection and sepsis. The aim of current study was to develop novel hybrid hydrogels of silk fibroin containing 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of Catharanthus roseus extract. Prepared hydrogels were characterized and GC-MS analysis of C. roseus extract was done to assess the component composition. Swiss albino mice were injected with alloxan to develop diabetic models and foot ulcer was induced. Hydrogels were administered every other day and wound healing potential was observed. GC-MS analysis revealed various antidiabetic and antibacterial constituents in C. roseus, while FT-IR results of hydrogels indicated intramolecular interactions between CMC, sodium alginate, fibroin and C. roseus extracts. The hydrogels showed more than 100% swelling ratio along with uniform surface morphology depicted by SEM analysis. Wound healing was notably faster (more than 80%) in mice treated with formulated hydrogels as compared to negative control group which showed just a 42% reduction in ulcer size by day 14. Similarly, in the treatment groups, IL-10 and TIMPs were significantly increased, whereas pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases were decreased. Histological analysis showed clear distinctions between diabetic and non-diabetic pancreas supported by HbA1c and C-peptide levels. Hydrogels treated groups exhibited enhanced angiogenesis, collagen fiber restoration and granulation tissue formation, indicating wound healing. In conclusion, this research shows that 1.5% C. roseus extract infused with silk Fibroin hydrogel has proved an efficient healing and rapid wound contraction of the diabetic foot ulcer in mice on day 14.