The healing effect of tragacanth in phosphatidylcholine/chitosan/tragacanth biofilms for wound dressing application

The aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effect of tragacanth to heal wounds. In addition to being water absorbent, gum tragacanth is facile to purchase and also economic, and hence a candidate material in food and drug industry. The present study discusses the fabrication of hydrogel biofilm wound dressings by using phosphatidylcholine, chitosan, and tragacanth gum. These polymer biofilms were used to prepare antibiotic drug tetracycline loaded hydrogel dressings the for application in wound healing and to heal infected wounds. The important features of wound dressings such as water vapor transmission and swelling ratios, microbiological activities, mechanical properties, and toxicity were also investigated using different analysis methods. Results indicated the capacity of the biofilms for drug release, and also the biocompatibility of the hydrogel dressings. Wound exudate absorption rate also increased by increasing the tragacanth gum in the composition of wound dressing systems as well. Besides, Tragacanth gum was beneficiary for accelerating the wound healing in in-vitro wound healing test (scratch assay). Furthermore, adding antibiotics to the system led to the increased antibacterial activity of the hydrogels and impermeability of the wound dressings against microorganisms. Also, mechanical properties of the hydrogels showed that hydrogels tensile strength in dry and wet states were suitable. Hence, considering all investigations, these results indicated the efficiency of the hydrogel biofilms in wound dressing applications

Keywords:

Tragacanth gum , Chitosan , Phosphatidylcholine , Antibiotic delivery , Wound dressings