The present study demonstrates thein vivosoft tissue regenerative potential of flax seed mucilage (FSM) reinforced collagen aerogels in Wistar rats. The physiochemical, mechanical, and thermal properties were significantly improved upon the incorporation of flax mucilage into collagen when compared to the native collagen scaffold. In addition, the functional group of flax mucilage notably contributed to a better anti-oxidative potential than the control collagen. The flax mucilage-reinforced collagen at 4 mg ml-1concentration showed a 2-fold increase in porosity compared to native collagen. The tensile strength of native collagen, 2 mg ml-1, and 4 mg ml-1FSM reinforced collagen was 5.22 MPa, 9.76 MPa, and 11.16 MPa, respectively, which indicated that 2 mg ml-1and 4 mg ml-1FSM showed an 87% and 113% percentage increase respectively in tensile strength compared to the native collagen control. FSM-reinforced biomatrix showed 97% wound closure on day 15 post-wounding, indicating faster healing than controls, where complete healing occurred only on day 21. The mechanical properties of skin treated with FSM-reinforced collagen scaffold post-healing were considerably better than native collagen. The histological and immunohistochemistry analysis also showed complete restoration of wounded tissue like intact normal skin. The findings paved the way for the development of collagen-polysaccharide mucilage wound dressing materials and their further application in skin tissue engineering.
Keywords: collagen; flax mucilage; polysaccharides; wound healing.
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