Asymmetric chitosan membranes prepared by dry/wet phase separation: A new type of wound dressing for controlled antibacterial release

Fwu Long Mi, Yu Bey Wu, Shin Shing Shyu, An Chong Chao, Juin Yih Lai, Chia Ching Su

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

160 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An AgSD-incorporated chitosan membrane with sustained antimicrobial capability has been developed by a dry/wet phase separation method to overcome current limitations in silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) cream for treating acute burn wounds. The asymmetric chitosan membrane consists of a dense skin and sponge-like porous layer, which can fit the requirements (oxygen permeability, controlled water vapor evaporation and the drainage of wound exudates) for this membrane to be used as a wound dressing. AgSD cream is a traditionally-used antibacterial for the prevention of wound infection; however, it has raised concern of potential silver toxicity. The asymmetric chitosan membrane acts as a rate-controlling wound dressing to incorporate AgSD, and release sulfadiazine and silver ions in a sustained way. The release mechanism depends on the mass-transfer resistance for the release of sulfadiazine and silver ions from the dense and sponge-like porous layers, and the chemical resistance for the interaction of silver ions with chitosan polymeric chains, respectively. The bacteria-cultures (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and cell-culture (3T3 fibroblasts) assay of the AgSD-incorporated asymmetric chitosan membrane showed prolonged antibacterial activity and decreased potential silver toxicity. The results in this study indicate that the new type of chitosan wound dressing incorporated with AgSD may be effective in the treatment of infected wounds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)237-254
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume212
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 15 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Asymmetric chitosan membrane
  • Dry/wet phase separation
  • Wound dressing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Filtration and Separation

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