Chitosan- and levan-based wound dressings crosslinked with dialdehyde levan: Structural and biological stability...

Wounds are a global health challenge that often causes serious consequences in terms of morbidity or mortality. However, good wound dressings should retain their properties for an adequate period to avoid risking the health and lives of patients. Therefore, in this study, we first compared the long-term stability and biological performance of two polysaccharide-based sponges-chitosan- and levan-based-crosslinked with dialdehyde levan synthesized by our team. The composites were stored in a climatic chamber for six months under constant temperature and humidity conditions. After each month, a series of analyses characterizing the physicochemical and biological properties of the composite were performed, evaluating their usefulness for their potential use as wound dressing materials. The results showed that the levan-based sponge maintained its structure for up to 4 months of storage in the climate chamber, while the chitosan-based sponge retained its structure throughout the study period. A slight decrease in physicochemical and biological properties was observed in both cases during this time. However, this decrease did not affect the proper functioning of the composites, suggesting that both materials remain viable for use in wound healing applications. Notably, chitosan-based sponges showed superior long-term stability, making them a more reliable material for extended wound dressing applications.