In vitro biocompatibility and inflammation response of ?-glucan based mixture extracted from barley for wound healing treatment

INTRODUCTION Over the past few years, several studies have been highlighting the great potential of ?-glucans as a multifunctional modulators of wound healing alone and/or incorporated in a polymeric matrix [1]. ?-glucans represent the major components of cell walls of bacteria, fungi, yeast and cereals, mainly oat and barley, and their structural and biological properties strictly depend on the source. Among them, barley ?-glucans are extensively studied as they have shown interesting antimicrobial and wound healing properties [2]. In this study, ?-glucan based mixtures (containing proteins, fats and other polysaccharides, such as starch) were extracted from barley at different pH, through a very simple and low cost extraction process. The obtained mixtures were then employed for film preparation and the cell biocompatibility was studied. To this aim, different cell lines involved in wound healing, human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), were used through direct and indirect in vitro assays (following ISO 10993-5 guidelines). The viability and migration of fibroblast and endothelial cells were analysed by using the in vitro scratch wound healing assay. In addition, cell adhesion was investigated by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the effect on inflammation response modulation, was carried out on a murine macrophage J774 cell line in order to assess the effects of ?-glucan on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines production (IL-6, IL-10, IL-1?). The results suggested that ?-glucan films supported cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, these films are able to modulate the inflammation process in terms of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels.