Chitosan thin films developed with germanium oxide for wound healing applications: Cell viability, wettability, and antibacterial activity

Abstract

Tailoring a biomaterial with versatile properties is important to develop a multifunctional scaffold for biomedical applications. In this work, chitosan (CS) is chosen to be the matrix material of the scaffold, while hydroxyapatite and germanium dioxide which are encapsulated in CS film enhanced the biological properties. The addition of the dopant increased the hydrophilicity of CS and the chemical reaction on the surface of the scaffold, which supports the adhesion of the scaffold on the skin and cell migration. On the other hand, the TGA showed good thermal stability as about 24.4 % of the scaffold remained at 600 oC. Furthermore, S1 exhibited the most effective antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, with an average inhibition zone of 12.5 mm and a low standard deviation of 0.5 mm. S4 demonstrated significant effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with an average inhibition zone of 12.5±0.5 mm. These data indicate that the materials have potential antibacterial capabilities, specifically against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Overall, the results indicate that the modified CS scaffold can be utilized in biomedical applications including drug delivery and wound healing.