High-flexible chitosan-based composite membrane with multi-layer biopolymer coatings for anti-bacterial drug delivery and wound healing

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-11, Vol.279 (Pt 1), p.134829, Article 134829
• Main Authors: Tao, Xinwei, Wang, Zijia, Ren, Bowen, Li, Jianliang, Zhou, Tianle, Tan, Huaping, Niu, Xiaohong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alginates; Anti-bacterial properties; asymmetric membranes; bacterial infections; biopolymers; cell proliferation; Chitosan; crosslinking; evaporation; hydrophilicity; Membranes; microparticles; Microspheres; oxidation; raw materials; schiff bases; silver; solvents; sulfadiazine; tensile strength; tetracycline; water vapor; Wound dressing
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134829

Flexible chitosan-based membranes were prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method using chitosan flocks as raw material. To improve mechanical and biological properties, chitosan microspheres (CMs) were prepared and integrated to form the composite membranes. Two different anti-bacterial drugs, e.g., tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) and silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), were loaded into the CMs and composite membranes to enhance their anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, composite membranes were alternately coated by multi-layers of oxidized alginate (OAlg) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) via the layer-by-layer self-assembly and Schiff-base cross-linking. Our results demonstrated that the microspheres and multi-layer coatings could improve the swelling, water vapor transmission and hydrophilicity of the composite membranes. The chitosan microspheres and multi-layer coatings increased the tensile strength and decreased the elongation at the break of the membranes. Our composite membrane had better mechanical properties, slow drug release, anti-bacterial properties, which could promote cell proliferation. This composite membrane has great application potential in inhibiting bacterial infection and promoting wound regeneration. •Flexible chitosan-based membrane was prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method.•Chitosan microspheres were integrated to improve properties of the membrane.•Biocompatibility of the membrane was further improved by multi-layer coating of biopolymers.