Controlled antiseptic/eosin release from chitosan-based hydrogel modified fibrous substrates

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cellulose fibers are widely used in passive wound dressings.
• Developing active wound dressings with controlled drug release is crucial for improving healing outcomes.
• Existing dressings often lack sustained antiseptic delivery, leading to limited efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate N-methacrylate glycol chitosan (MGC)-coated cellulose fibers for enhanced wound healing applications.
• To investigate the drug release dynamics and antibacterial efficacy of the MGC-coated system.
• To assess the in vivo performance of the MGC-coated fibers in a wound healing model.

Main Methods:

• Stable coating of cellulose fibers with MGC shells via dip coating and photo-curing.
• Incorporation of a model antiseptic solution (eosin, chloroxylenol, propylene glycol) into MGC shells.
• Investigation of drug release kinetics in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and assessment of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.
• Evaluation of the MGC-eosin system in a mouse wound healing model.

Main Results:

• MGC-coated cellulose fibers demonstrated stable fibrous structure and controlled, gradual release of antiseptic for four days.
• The MGC-coated system exhibited significant antibacterial efficiency (85% against S. aureus, 90% against C. albicans), unlike pristine fibers.
• In vivo studies showed the MGC-eosin system reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines in a mouse wound healing model.

Conclusions:

• MGC-coated cellulose fibers offer a promising platform for developing active wound dressings with sustained antiseptic release.
• The developed system significantly improves antibacterial efficacy and demonstrates potential for wound healing applications.
• This cost-effective method can transform conventional fibrous dressings into advanced active wound care solutions.