Synergistic Blend of p-Aminomethylbenzoic Acid in Electrohydrodynamically Atomized Chitosan-PVA Composite Particles...

Electrohydrodynamic splitting was performed on a filament consisting of a blend of chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), followed by ionotropic gelation to produce uniform microparticles with dimensions on the order of 400 μm. The trapped solvent was removed by lyophilization, which rendered ultraporous characteristics to these particles and thus enabled quick absorption of blood plasma, along with aggregation of platelets for hemostasis. The uniformity of the particles ensured uniform coverage of the wound space. The increase in the PVA fraction in the blend resulted in greater porosity and surface area, as evidenced by the SEM image and BET analysis, respectively, and in turn, led to faster clotting, as shown by thromboelastography and in vivo analysis on rat models. Furthermore, the introduction of p-aminomethylbenzoic acid (ABA) as a releasable solute resulted in hindered fibrinolysis in the coagulation cascade, producing a stable blood clot. The in vivo experiments on the rat model further demonstrated the synergistic contribution of chitosan as an antimicrobial and wound healing agent.