RESUMO
The antibacterial activity of two low-molecular-weight chitosans (LMWCs) was studied using two wound cultures: E. coli and St. albus. Both LMWCs exhibited antibacterial affect. The would-healing effect of methylcellulose gels comprising LMWCs (72 or 11 kDa) was studied. It was shown that wound-healing properties of gels depend on the molecular weight and concentration of LMWCs. The healing activity of LMWCs was assessed judging by the would half-closure time. The gels exhibiting the greatest healing rate contained 2% 72-kDa LMWC or 0.1% 11-kDa LMWC. The composition of the oligomeric fraction of the 11-kDa LMWC was studied by HPLC. It was shown that the oligomeric moiety of the 11-kDa LMWC represents a mixture of oligomers with a large admixture of monomers (30.82%).