Design and characterization of sodium alginate-based scaffolds for the treatment of burn wounds
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Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Fort Hare
Abstract
Burn injuries have a considerable impact on mortality and morbidity rates due to the systemic immune changes and increased infection risks that they cause. These factors hinder the healing process and allow microbial invasion, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality rates. In this study, sodium alginate-based membranes, topical gel, and nanofibers were prepared and evaluated as potential wound dressings that are affordable and effective for treating burn wounds, suggesting that they can also be accessible to low income individuals. The topical gels were prepared from sodium alginate (SA), Carbopol, Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The gels were loaded with Capparis sepiaria extract to enhance their antibacterial efficacy. Membranes were designed from SA/Gum acacia/PVA/PF127 and loaded with Capparis sepiaria, and nanofibers were developed from SA/PVA/PLGA and loaded with Capparis sepiaria. The topical gels, membranes, and nanofibers were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the successful preparation of these three classes of wound dressings. The Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) values of the membranes and nanofibers were in a range of 1654.73 ± 0.74 and 319.24 ± 9.82 g/m2.24h, respectively, which is suitable for application on burn wounds, preventing moisture accumulation and reducing the risk of infection. The viscosity of the topical gels was in the range of 12 ± 0-7720 ± 152.83 and 20 ± 9.78-5256 ± 61.10 cP at 50 and 100 rPM, respectively, revealing a thixotropic/pseudoplastic behaviour, indicating that they can be easily applied on the wound bed. The membranes were biodegradable, with good swelling behaviour, showing their capability to absorb excess wound exudate. The membrane’s mechanical properties were studied, and their tensile strength was suitable for dermal application without causing discomfort upon removal from the wound bed. The topical gels, membranes, and nanofibers scaffolds displayed superior antibacterial efficacy against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria strains compared to the employed commercial wound dressing in this study that are responsible for the chronicity of burn wounds, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus vulgaris, and Staphylococcus aureus. These three wound dressings showed a non-toxic effect on the immortalized human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) cells, with a % cell viability of more than 85%. Furthermore, the wound dressings' capability to promote blood clotting was significant. The non-toxic nature of the wound dressings supported significant cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation than the commercial wound dressing used in the study. The three classes of SA-based wound dressings (i.e., topical gels, membranes, and nanofibers) displayed superior biological properties than commercial wound dressing, revealing their potential application as wound dressings on burn wounds.
Description
PhD thesis
Keywords
Membranes (Biology), Nanofibers, wound healing
Citation
Ndlovu, S.P. (2024) Design and characterization of sodium alginate-based scaffolds for the treatment of burn wounds. PhD thesis. Alice, South Africa: University of Fort Hare.