Fabrication and Characterization of Low Methoxyl Pectin/Gelatin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Absorbent Hydrogel Film for Wound Dressing Applications

Abstract

In this study, hydrogel films composed of low methoxyl pectin (LMP), gelatin, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were fabricated. Glycerin was used as a plasticizer while glutaraldehyde (Glu) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) were used as crosslinking agents in film preparation. Hydrogel films were morphologically characterized and evaluated for mechanical properties. In addition, the investigations for fluid uptake ability, water retention capacity, water vapor transmission rate, and integrity value of the invented films were performed. The results showed that F-Glu-Ca-G30 film demonstrated superior properties when compared to other prepared films. It demonstrated a high percentage of elongation at break (32.80%), fluid uptake ability (88.45% at 2 h), water retention capacity (81.70% at 2 h), water vapor transmission rate (1889 g/m2/day), and integrity value (86.42%). F-Glu-Ca-G30 film was subsequently selected for 10% w/w povidone iodine (PI) loading and tested for anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity using an agar diffusion assay. Notably, F-Glu-Ca-G30-PI film demonstrated a dramatic ability to inhibit microbial growth, when compared to both a blank film and iodine solution control. Our LMP/gelatin/CMC hydrogel film promises to be an effective dressing material with high fluid absorption capacity, fluid holding ability, and water vapor transmission rate. Incorporation of antibiotics such as povidone iodine into the films conferred its antimicrobial property thereby highlighting its potential dermatological use. However, further clinical studies of the application of this hydrogel film as wound dressing material is recommended.

Recent Developments of Carboxymethyl Cellulose

“…CMC is widely used to improve the characteristics and effectiveness of various wound dressing and wound healing materials in various clinical applications due to their excellent binding capacity to the internal body cells, biocompatibility (i.e., with skin, bone, and mucous membranes), and strong hydrophilic property (due to the presence of anionic carboxylic and hydroxyl groups in internal network structure and surface as well) [ 246 , 247 ]. Furthermore, blending capability with various water-soluble organic polymers such as poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly-(ethylene glycol), etc., have widened the application field of CMC-based biomaterials in wound dressing purposes [ 248 , 249 ]. In this regard, numerous structures of such materials have been used.…”

“…Furthermore, pore-sizes of the hydrogels were proven to be flexible and could be tailored by varying the aspect ratio and concentration of the PVA in the hydrogel. In the same year, another research group of Jantrawut et al (2019) [ 248 ] developed a low methoxyl pectin/gelatin/CMC-based bi-layered hydrogel film that also exhibited a high fluid uptake capability and water retention capacity with a high integrity value. Additionally, well-controlled drug release of the hydrogel films loaded with povidone-iodine demonstrated its potentialities to be used as an alternative vehicle for the delivery of aseptic and/or antibiotics to the moist wound sites to accelerate wound healing without any kinds of posterior bacterial infections.…”

Development of Bio-Active Patches Based on Pectin for the Treatment of Ulcers and Wounds Using 3D-Bioprinting Technology

“…There is a vast number of materials available for wound dressing, currently under investigation for different types of wounds and different treatment approaches [1][2][3][4]. The type, depth, and location of a wound, in addition to the extent of damage, the amount of wound exudates and the presence of an infection in the wound site, are key factors in the selection of dressing type.…”

Fabrication and Characterization of Polysaccharide Composite Films from Polyion Complex Particles

“…The equilibrium swelling ratio of the composite films depended on the kinds of anionic polysaccharides involved. It is known that HYA and CMC have excellent water-holding abilities [34,35]. The results that films containing them also showed high equilibrium swelling ratio (Table 3) indicated that anionic polysaccharide properties were maintained in the composite films.…”