N-acylhydrazone Derivative-Loaded Cellulose Acetate Films: Thermoanalytical, Spectroscopic, Mechanical and Morphological Characterization

Abstract

Cellulose acetate (ACT) is one of the most important cellulose derivatives due to its biodegradability and low toxicity, presenting itself as one of the main substitutes for synthetic materials in the development of wound dressing films. The incorporation of a N-acylhydrazonic derivative (JR19), with its promising anti-inflammatory activity, may represent an alternative for the treatment of skin wounds. This work aims to develop and to physicochemically and mechanically characterize ACT films containing JR19. The films were prepared using the ‘casting’ method and further characterized by thermoanalytical and spectroscopic techniques. In addition, mechanical tests and morphological analysis were performed. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses showed that the thermal events attributed to excipients and films were similar, indicating the absence of physical incompatibilities between ACT and JR19. Infrared spectroscopy showed that JR19 was incorporated into ACT films. The characteristic band attributed to C≡N (2279 to 2264 cm−1) was observed in the spectra of JR19, in that of the physical mixture of JR19/ACT, and, to a lesser extent, in the spectra of JR19 incorporated into the ACT film, suggesting some interaction between JR19 and ACT. X-ray diffraction (XRD) evidenced the suppression of the crystallinity of JR19 (diffraction peaks at 8.54°, 12.80°, 14.09°, 16.08°, 18.19°, 22.65°, 23.59°, 24.53°, 25.70°, 28.16° and 30.27°2θ) after incorporation into ACT films. The mechanical tests indicated the adequate integrity of the films and their resistance to bending. The morphological characterization showed JR19 crystals along with a homogeneously distributed porous structure throughout the surface of the films with an average diameter of 21.34 µm and 22.65 µm of the films alone and of those incorporating JR19F, respectively. This study was able to characterize the ACT films incorporating JR19, showing their potential to be further developed as wound healing dressings.

In Vitro and In Vivo Characterization Methods for Evaluation of Modern Wound Dressings

“…Films and foams-based dressings come under semi-permeable interactive dressings, while hydrocolloids dressings, hydrogels dressings, smart wound dressings, electrospun nanofibrous wound dressings, antimicrobial wound dressings, and 3D printed wound dressings belong to advanced interactive dressings [ 1 , 17 , 25 ]. Furthermore, tissue-engineered skin equivalents and cell-based wound dressings belong to bioactive wound dressings [ 18 , 26 , 27 ]. Moreover, modern wound dressings are semi-occlusive or occlusive and stretch from hydrogel dressings, cell-based dressings, smart stimuli-responsive dressings, antimicrobial dressings to 3D printed dressings, etc.…”

Modern Wound Dressings: Hydrogel Dressings

“…Modern WDs are usually semi-occlusive or occlusive and presented mainly by synthetic polymers and divided into interactive, advanced interactive, and bioactive catergories [ 17 , 18 ]. Interactive dressings include semi-permeable films and foams, advanced interactive dressings are presented by hydrocolloids and hydrogels, while tissue-engineered skin equivalents belong to bioactive WDs [ 19 , 20 ].…”