Fabrication of Self-Healing Absorbable Polymer Based Gel for Wound Dressing

Healthcare professionals must take special care of wounds to avoid serious complications such as infections, lengthy healing periods, and even amputations. This study aimed to design and manufacture a self-healing bioabsorbable polymeric based wound dressing with anti-bacterial growth and improved wound healing properties. Gel-based mixtures were successfully made-up of 5wt% chitosan with inhibition bacterial growth feature in 5-20wt% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) called “pure mixture”. It was observed that the mixture of 5wt% chitosan in 10wt% PVA resulted in the most controlled viscosity and appropriate gel-texture for wound healing. The measured viscosities of 5wt% chitosan and 10wt% PVA are 235 and 531 Pa·s, respectively. The microscopic examination confirmed that addition of chitosan into PVA has successfully inhibited the bacterial growth. Another gel-based mixture called “additive mixture” was also investigated using the optimized preparation condition of 5wt% chitosan in 10wt% PVA with incorporation of some traditional herbs in powder form named frankincense, myrrh, and alum stone. Microscopic examination proven that addition of traditional herbs into chitosan/PVA mixture has initiated some bacteria to growth. A comparison of the wound healing performance of pure mixture gel and additive mixture gel was conducted using rats. The pure mixture gel produced a faster healing rate and a lower level of inflammation than the additive mixture gel.