ABSTRACT
Blending is one of the effective approaches in preparing tailored materials with a wide range of properties. Thus, chitosan-based polymers have been fabricated and used as wound dressings since they possess better properties than those of the constituent materials. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biocompatibility and biodegradability of biodegradable blend films based on polyethylene glycol-co-fumarate (PEGF) and chitosan (Ch). The blend films of Ch/PEGF were prepared by solution casting/solvent evaporation method. Degradation behavior of these blend films was evaluated in a simulated fluid at physiological pH supplemented with lysozyme at a concentration similar to that in human serum by weight loss of the films and changes in the pH of media. When the pH of incubation media was analyzed, with an increase of PEGF content in the blend films, the degradation rate increased accordingly. The pH of the media of samples was not significantly changed at any measured time point and all films kept their integrities during 28 days. The biocompatibility of the films and cell behavior on the surface of these films were investigated by in vitro tests. Biological assessment using mouse fibroblast cell line L929 on the blend films of Ch/PEGF indicated that films supported the attachment, spreading and proliferation of cells. Since the Ch/PEGF films are biocompatible with the tailored biodegradation rate, they might have a great prospective position in the application of wound dressings.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to prepare chitosan/polyethylene glycol fumarate (chitosan/PEGF) blend films as wound dressings and to evaluate the influence of composition ratio on the blending properties of the films. Blending chitosan with PEGF obviated the brittleness of neat chitosan film. Film topography performed by atomic force microscopy illustrated that blending could increase and control the surface roughness of the neat film. Their water vapor transmission rates were close to the range of 904-1447 g(-2)day(-1) found to be proper candidates for dressing the wounds with moderate exudates. Controlled water solubility, swelling, wettability and surface tension of the blend films were also evaluated. The blend films showed a powerful antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (Kill%>99.76 ± 0.16%). Physical properties as well as antibacterial activity assessments showed that among different compositions, the film comprising 80 wt% chitosan and 20 wt% PEGF is a suitable candidate for biomedical applications as a wound dressing material.
