Development of biocompatible polymer based synthetic wound dressing

Biocompatible hydrogel wound dressings have attracted significant interest due to their ability to enhance the regeneration of dermal and epidermal tissues, their biodegradability, and their antimicrobial properties. In particular, chitosan and Pluronic F127 (PF127) hydrogel wound dressings and their derivatives are widely studied polymer examples. In this study, a biocompatible hydrogel wound dressing based on Pluronic F127 was developed using chitosan functionalized separately with four different dipeptides (Ala-Leu, Ala-Gly, Leu-Gly, and Gly-Phe) nanotubes. The synthesized biocompatible hydrogel structures were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to investigate the molecular structures and compositions of the hydrogels. The microstructural properties and elemental compositions of the synthesized materials were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) were employed to characterize the mass changes and phase transitions of the hydrogels with temperature and their thermal properties. According to the analysis results, the synthesized structures were validated through instrumental techniques. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized materials were tested against selected microorganisms (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, S. Pyogenes, C. albicans). Based on the findings from the antimicrobial tests, it was concluded that no antimicrobial effect was observed. Cell culture studies evaluated the cytotoxic effects of the hydrogels using the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay and assessed their wound healing potential. The results obtained from the applications of the synthesized materials at different doses indicated that they were biocompatible, but no wound healing effects were detected. In the cell culture studies, the human keratinocyte cell line HS2 and the mouse fibroblast cell line L-929 were used. As a result, it was concluded that the Pluronic F127-based hydrogels prepared using chitosan functionalized with four different dipeptides nanotubes could potentially be modified with antimicrobial agents and wound healing-promoting agents for use as therapeutic carrier wound dressings or injectable gel forms.