Polymeric Membranes of Chitosan/Aloe Vera Gel Fabrication With Enhanced Swelling and Antimicrobial Properties for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been used as traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Aloe vera (AV) gel’s therapeutic potential is one of the most effective approach in the fabrication of functional materials. The current study aimed to prepare the AV and chitosan (CS) membranes using various cross-linkers that were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Visible) techniques, as well as swelling ratio and antimicrobial studies. SEM analysis revealed that the membrane is porous, with interconnected pores. The inclusion of AV contents in the membrane improved thermal stability and crystallinity. The swelling ratio of the ACPG-3 membrane with a 2:1 CS to AV ratio was 366%. The membranes showed promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pasteurella multocida strains. The findings revealed that polymeric CS/AV membranes have effective potential for use in the biomedical field.

Chitosan/aloe vera gel coatings infused with orange peel essential oils for fruits preservation

“…Meanwhile, AVG contains polysaccharides and other lubricants ( Mohammadi et al, 2021 ). The CTS/AVG solution had the maximum viscosity of 24.60 ± 0.20 cP, possibly due to its capacity to build a network of cross-linked polymer chains that impede liquid movement ( Iqbal et al, 2023 ). OPEO contains terpenoids and other chemicals with various physiological effects.…”

“…It is clearly shown that CTS/AVG only shows significant antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an inhibition zone of 10.5 ± 1.3 mm. There was no substantial bactericidal potential of aloe vera in the chitosan matrix, which may be because the bioactive components of aloe vera gel were trapped by the high concentration of chitosan ( Iqbal et al, 2023 ). Incorporation of OPEO in CTS/AVG coating solutions increased the susceptibility of tested bacteria, thus increasing the zone of inhibition.…”

Fabrication, Properties, and Stability of Oregano Essential Oil and Sodium Alginate-Based Wound-Healing Hydrogels

“…A good dressing material with antibacterial characteristics is necessary in such a situation. 1 - 6 Dressings are crucial in preventing infection and boosting growth factors for faster healing. 7 , 8 Traditional wound dressings are primarily dry and challenging to apply, and they cannot heal patients.…”