title: Chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol composite films containing nitrofurazone: preparation and evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to insert nitrofurazone in a chitosan membrane to be used as a wound dressing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several blend films using chitosan (Cs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), containing nitrofurazone were prepared by means of casting/solvent evaporating technique. Different characteristics such as mechanical properties, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), oxygen permeability (OP), swelling ability (SW), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), drug release profiles and antibacterial activity of the films were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that nitrofurazone decreased tensile strength, OP and SW of Cs films, while increased WVTR. Addition of PVA at any concentration improved mechanical properties, reduced WVTR, and increased OP and SW of nitrofurazone-loaded Cs films. The latter films showed higher activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than drug-free chitosan films.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of PVA improves many properties of Cs-nitrofurazone films and makes them more desirable as dressing material for burn wounds. Although nitrofurazone alone is ineffective against P. aeruginosa, it is able to increase antibacterial effect of chitosan in composite films.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kouchak
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Department of Food and Drug Control, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolghani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ameri
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Basireh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kargar Boldaji
keywords: Antibacterial; Chitosan; Nitrofurazone; Polyvinyl alcohol; Wound Dressing