Abstract
Chronic wounds are severe breaks in the skin barrier that fail to heal in an acceptable time-frame, thus preventing the complete restoration of the tissue’s anatomical and functional integrity, increasing the likelihood of infections and apoptosis. Hydrogels are known as a drug delivery system and have the potential to cover wounds and burns on the skin. Aloe barbadensis contains over 75 different bioactive compounds which are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In this study, the polyacrylamide-co-methylcellulose hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis were developed. The extract was prepared from lyophilized Aloe barbadensis, using methanolic extraction, characterized by high performance liquid chromatography and incorporated into the hydrogels. These Aloe barbadensis hydrogels were characterized by degree of swelling, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal profiling using thermogravimetric analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration test was done on the Aloe barbadensis extract to evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro. The Aloe barbadensis hydrogels and were shown to swell to almost 2000% of their original sizes. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of bands characteristic of Aloe barbadensis and hydrogel polymers. The basic hydrogel showed greater thermal stability than the hydrogels with Aloe barbadensis. The minimum inhibitory concentration showed inhibition of the growth of S. aureus and Salmonella spp. at specific concentrations. The hydrogel therefore presents itself as an excellent potential curative cover of cutaneous lesions.
Highlights
Chronic wounds are severe breaks in the skin barrier that fail to heal in an acceptable time-frame, preventing the complete restoration of the tissue’s anatomical and functional integrity, increasing the likelihood of infections and apoptosis
Using the concept mentioned above, this study proposes the association of the innovative hydrogel technology with the technological development of phytotherapy by obtaining a polyacrylamide–methylcellulose hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, to develop a bandage for the treatment of chronic cutaneous lesions
The EA was obtained from the Aloe barbadensis gel in natura due to the fact that it contains some of the bioactive compounds of the plant
Summary
Chronic wounds are severe breaks in the skin barrier that fail to heal in an acceptable time-frame, preventing the complete restoration of the tissue’s anatomical and functional integrity, increasing the likelihood of infections and apoptosis. In the United States alone, for example, chronic wounds are reported to affect 6.5 million patients, causing more than USD 25 billion to be charged to the healthcare system each year as a result of wound-related complications [3]. This expense is reflected in the United Kingdom, where the resulting cost to the National Health Service in the care of these kinds of wounds were roughly estimated at USD 3.4–4.6 billion per year (in 2005), which was about 3% of the total estimated expenditure on health for the same year [9]
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