Synergistic Effect of Nitric Oxide for Wound Healing Using Etherification of Cotton

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the synergistic effect of nitric oxide, chitosan and gelatin-grafted cotton for wound healing. Grafted cottons were prepared by etherification process where hydroxyl group of chitosan and hydroxyl group of cotton formed ether bond with dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea. Photomicrography and SEM studies showed the changes in cotton fibres before and after grafting process. Chitosan-grafted cotton (formulation F1) and chitosan-gelatin-grafted cotton (formulation F2) showed thickening and constriction in fibres after grafting process. Hence, the change in cotton fibres as compared to initial cotton indicated the completion of grafting process. Nitrite contents for formulations F1 and F2 were found to be 90.29% and 92.12%, respectively, with prolonged release of nitric oxide for 24 h. The bonding was confirmed by FTIR study due to strong intra- and inter-hydrogen bonding and weak van der Waals interactions. The bonding of grafted solution to cotton fibre might be due to interaction between various constituent groups of polymer chain with chitosan and cotton. Antimicrobial study of the formulations (F1 and F2) on E. coli and S. aureus revealed that both the formulations showed inhibition on E. coli. Furthermore, results of animal study proved that formulation F2 is synergistically effective when compared to control group as nitric oxide directly affected the wound healing process. In animal study, the formulation F2 showed 70% wound closure in comparison to 55% in formulation F1. Grafted cotton using etherification process shows potential to become commercial wound healing system in near future.