Phomopsidione loaded chitosan polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanocomposite
dressing for pressure ulcers
Abstract
Pressure ulcers are commonly associated with microbial infections on the
wounds which need an effective wound dressing. However, the silver
dressings have shown promising result but they have toxicity and
argyria. Hence, this study aimed to develop and characterize
chitosan-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanocomposite hydrogel loaded with
phomopsidione as an antimicrobial dressing. The hydrogel being
synthesized was analyzed with transmission and scanning electron
microscopes. Drug release and mechanical properties were studied having
confirmed the functional groups with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)
spectroscopy. Finally, antimicrobial activities were evaluated against
the clinical wound pathogens. The developed hydrogel was soft, flexible
and elastic, having nanospheres of chitosan-PEG but no sign of
aggregation under the electron microscopes. Releasing of phomopsidione
from the nanocomposite hydrogel was slow and gradual following the first
order of kinetic. On average, 34 μg/mL phomopsidione released per hour
and 67.9% active ingredients delivered into the surrounding medium over
the study period. Although, the bioactivity activity of the hydrogel was
narrow-spectrum, it showed significant results against all Gram-negative
bacteria and Candida utilis with 99.99% reduction of microbial growth.
The findings reveal that the phomopsidione loaded hydrogel has a great
promise to act as an antimicrobial dressing for chronic wounds.