RESUMO
When hydrocolloids dressings are loaded with an antibacterial agent, they can also prevent infection during wound cicatrisation. To consider interesting properties of traditional Gum Tragacanth such as moisture absorption, hydrocolloid formation, drug holding and releasing abilities, it was aimed to introduce a scaffold wound dress based on Gum Tragacanth with drug release ability simultaneously. In this experimental study, gum tragacanth from Astragalus gossypinus species [Iranian species] is solved and loaded with an aminoglycoside antibiotic [Gentamicin]. Prepared solution transformed to a nano fibers network "scaffold" by lyophilization method. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction methods and their antimicrobial and moisture holding properties were determined. Gum tragacanth showed a proper potential for dispersing gentamicin and the drug was loaded into polymer matrix without any aggregation. Loaded gum tragacanth with gentamicin is successfully transformed to a nanofibers scaffold by lyophilization. The diameters of fibers were in the range of 300nm to 2micro m. Transformed gum tragacanth into scaffolds showed declined regain content [up to 50%] due to the ordering and orientation of polymer chains. Ordered hydroxyl groups also observed in FTIR graphs. Regarding the zones of inhibition, scaffolds also showed acceptable antibacterial activities. Produced scaffolds are capable of absorbing wound's exocrine liquid easily due to their high specific area of nanofibers. When it is turned to gel by moisture sorption, the release of loaded Gentamicin would be enhanced