TAGRA 2025

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, impairs oral wound healing through fibroblast dysfunction, persistent inflammation, and excessive apoptosis, leading to delayed closure and higher infection risk. While graphene-based nanomaterials show promise for tissue regeneration, their effects on fibroblast survival in diabetic oral wounds remain poorly understood. Here, we report the structural characterization and therapeutic evaluation of graphene/cellulose nanocomposites in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat oral wound model. Nanoparticles, synthesized with uniform graphene dispersion (38.9–77.6 nm) and strong interfacial bonding within a cellulose matrix, were confirmed by FTIR, XRD, XPS, and SEM. Untreated diabetic wounds displayed profound fibroblast injury, including reduced viability, elevated lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, oxidized glutathione, cytochrome c release, and high apoptosis/necrosis rates versus healthy controls (p < 0.001). Nanoparticle treatment significantly restored viability (p < 0.01), suppressed oxidative stress (p < 0.01), normalized glutathione redox balance (p < 0.001), and reduced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, with most parameters approaching healthy levels within five days. These findings demonstrate that graphene/cellulose nanocomposites possess favorable nanoscale architecture and also confer potent cytoprotective effects in the diabetic wound microenvironment. This nanoplatform offers a promising strategy to counteract oxidative stress and enhance healing in diabetes-impaired oral tissues.