Design and Characterization of Collagen-Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose-Lidocaine 3D Composites for Wound Management

Abstract

A lot of biomaterials were investigated as suitable scaffolds for wound healing, very high costs being involved for treating their complications and consequences. Among them, a special attention is given to collagen, a natural biopolymer which showed positive effect on soft tissue regeneration. A key factor encountered in wound healing is represented by the pain control. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design and characterize some 3D composites based on collagen and lidocaine hydrochloride as anesthetic drug model with analgesic properties. Type I fibrillar collagen gel (1.40% w/w, 3.5 pH) was extracted from calf hide by the technology currently used in Collagen Department of Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute. The collagen composites were obtained by freeze-drying of gels adjusted at 1% and 7.2 pH, with different sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) (0; 20 and 40%) concentrations (reported to dry gel), with 0.5% and without lidocaine, un-and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (0.5% reported to collagen dry substance). The 3D composites were evaluated through water absorption, FT-IR spectroscopy, and enzymatic degradation. The in vitro release of lidocaine from the tested formulations was performed using a sandwich device adapted to a dissolution equipment. A typical biphasic drug release profiles was recorded, with an important lidocaine burst release effect in the first minutes, ensuring a rapid pain diminution, followed by a prolonged release over next hours. The lidocaine release from the designed formulations showed an anomalous drug transport kinetic mechanism. The composites showed a porous structure, proper swelling behaviour for wound exudates and degradation in time. The collagen-NaCMC-based composites could be a promising solution in wound healing management.