Statistical evaluation of biocompatibility and biodegradability behavior of synthesized chitocene/gelatin hydrogel for wound dressing applications

In this study, chitosan and gelatin were used to prepare hydrogels, which can be an alternative to conventional dressings, due to their biocompatible, biodegradable and accelerating new tissue formation properties. The effect of the amount of chitosan, gelatin and crosslinker on the biocompatibility and biodegradability of hydrogels was evaluated statistically. The effect of the molecular weight of chitosan on the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the hydrogels prepared according to the optimum amounts determined as a result of the statistical study was investigated. Statistical experiments were designed according to the Box-Behnken experimental design method. Biocompatibility of hydrogels; swelling rate, gas permeability and porosity tests, and biodegradability were analysed by in vitro degradation and in vitro enzymatic degradation assays. Synthetic body fluid, which is the closest solution to the human body blood plasma content, was used in the analyses. The results obtained were statistically evaluated with the Design Expert 13 package program and a mathematical model was evaluated for each response variable and the optimum values of the parameters were determined. In this study, it is thought that the results of the statistical evaluation of the effect of the simultaneous changes of the parameters on the properties of the biomaterial will contribute to biomedical applications.