The aim of the presented research was the physicochemical characterization of a biomaterial based on chitosan, hyaluronic acid and titanium dioxide(IV) in relation to biocompatibility and antibacterial characteristics for application in the cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical industries. Chitosan and hyaluronic acid were chosen due to their potential application (e.g., artificial skin and wound dressings), and titanium oxide(IV) was chosen to increase mechanical stability. The parameters with crucial effects on stability and biological environment response, and also those responsible for the antibacterial properties of the biomaterials, were described. The physicochemical properties of two- and three-component dispersions based on chitosan, hyaluronic acid and/or titanium oxide(IV) of different mass ratios were described in relation to energetic and topographic parameters. Knowledge of such parameters is necessary to predict and control the behavior of cells, which determines the proper functioning of the biomaterial in the living organism, indirectly providing information about biocompatibility.
The experimental data provided using the Langmuir technique, coupled with the Brewster angle microscope, gave insight into the interactions existing between the individual dispersion constituents and phospholipid molecules forming the model biological membranes. In order to characterize the biomaterial/cell membrane interactions precisely, two kinds of phospholipids which differ in their structure, 1,2-dipalmitoilo-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dioleoilo-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine (DOPC), were used. Moreover, the 1,2-dipalmitoilo-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) sodium salt, being the typical component of bacterial Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus membrane, as well as lipids extracted from these bacteria were used. The bactericidal capacity of the tested system was interpreted based on the colony forming the unit (CFU)-counting assay and LIVE/DEAD staining shared with the fluorescence intensity measurements. The obtained results significantly contribute to a broader understanding of the interactions of components of different polarities, with biological membranes confirming the need for a multifaceted view using biomimetic methods.
