Chitosan Associated with the Extract of Unripe Banana Peel for Potential Wound Dressing Application

Patrícia Bataglini Franco,Mariana Altenhofen Da Silva,Maria Gabriela Nogueira Campos,Rodrigo Fernando Costa Marques,Leiliane Aparecida De Almeida

doi:10.1155/2017/9761047

Abstract

The authors report the preparation of chitosan membranes associated with the extract of unripe banana peel. Extracts were prepared by decoction, using boiling distilled water. The extraction process was repeated three times. First and third extracts served as solvent to prepare chitosan membranes by solvent evaporation technique. The chitosan membranes associated with the first and third extracts of unripe banana peel exhibit good flexibility, transparency, and uniformity. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed dense membranes. Brownish color of membranes was observed due to the presence of tannins, which was confirmed by Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. Thermal properties of the membranes were evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), which exhibited good thermal stability at physiological temperature (37°C). At this temperature and pH 7.2, membranes were also able to absorb fluids. The hydrophilic character of the membranes was determined by contact angle measurements. The membranes demonstrated their capacity for gaseous exchange and exhibited water-vapor permeability (WVP) rates comparable to injured skin one. Finally, high number of viable dermal fibroblasts was observed by indirect cytotoxicity assay suggesting potential application of these membranes as skin wound dressing.

Highlights

Trauma, vascular insufficiency, and diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, rheumatism, and inflammatory disease, may cause wounds [1,2,3]
We recently demonstrated the antibacterial activity of chitosan membranes associated with unripe banana peel against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli [9]
We investigated morphological, thermal, chemical, hydrophilicity, and barrier properties of chitosan membranes associated with the extract of unripe banana peel by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle, and water-vapor permeability (WVP) techniques

Summary

Introduction

Vascular insufficiency, and diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, rheumatism, and inflammatory disease, may cause wounds [1,2,3]. The delayed healing or nonhealing of chronic wounds is due to the prolonged pathological inflammation and/or disruption of the healing process [1, 5] They can heal without restoring normal anatomy and function of the damage tissue [1]. Chronic wounds are considered a public health problem and lead to serious morbidity and mortality [4] They have been considerably increasing since one-third of the adult population is currently living with diabetes and it is estimated that between 10 and 25% of patients with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer in their lifetime [7]. The most currently available wound dressings are made using chitosan, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and silicon [4]

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Conclusion