title: Evaluation of wound healing potential of β-chitin hydrogel/nano zinc oxide composite bandage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  β-chitin hydrogel/nZnO composite bandage was fabricated and evaluated in detail as an alternative to existing bandages.
  
  
  METHODS
  β-chitin hydrogel was synthesized by dissolving β-chitin powder in Methanol/CaCl(2) solvent, followed by the addition of distilled water. ZnO nanoparticles were added to the β-chitin hydrogel and stirred for homogenized distribution. The resultant slurry was frozen at 0°C for 12 h. The frozen samples were lyophilized for 24 h to obtain porous composite bandages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bandages showed controlled swelling and degradation. The composite bandages showed blood clotting ability as well as platelet activation, which was higher when compared to the control. The antibacterial activity of the bandages were proven against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E.coli). Cytocompatibility of the composite bandages were assessed using human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) and these cells on the composite bandages were viable similar to the Kaltostat control bandages and bare β-chitin hydrogel based bandages. The viability was reduced to 50-60% in bandages with higher concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and showed 80-90% viability with lower concentration of nZnO. In vivo evaluation in Sprague Dawley rats (S.D. rats) showed faster healing and higher collagen deposition ability of composite bandages when compared to the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prepared bandages can be used on various types of infected wounds with large volume of exudates.
authors.affiliation: Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, 682041, India.
authors.forename: Sudheesh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: P T
authors.forename: Vinoth-Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Lakshmanan
authors.forename: Mincy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Tamura
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiroshi
authors.forename: Shantikumar V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Rangasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayakumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000382:microbiology; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002686:Chitin; D015034:Zinc Oxide