Films of chitosan and natural modified hydroxyapatite as effective UV-protecting, biocompatible and antibacterial wound dressings

Carla S. Cunha, Pedro J. Castro, Sérgio C. Sousa, Robert C. Pullar, David M. Tobaldi, Clara Piccirillo*, Maria M. Pintado

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide widely used in biomedicine, for instance for wound dressing. Hydroxyapatite is a very bioactive calcium phosphate which, if modified with an appropriate element (iron Fe), can also have UV-absorbing properties. In this work, we report the study of films of chitosan incorporated with iron-modified hydroxyapatite of natural origin (from cod fish bones); this combination led to an innovative chitosan-based material with excellent and advanced functional properties. The films showed very high UV absorption (Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value higher than 50). This is the first time that a chitosan-based material has shown such high UV protection properties. The films also showed to be non-cytotoxic, and possessed antimicrobial activity towards both Gram-positive and negative strains. Their mechanical properties, optimised with an experimental design approach, confirmed their potential use as multifunctional wound dressing, capable of reducing bacterial infections and, at the same time, protecting from UV light.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1177-1185
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Volume159
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2020

Keywords

  • Antibacterial
  • Chitosan
  • Hydroxyapatite
  • UV protection
  • Wound dressing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Films of chitosan and natural modified hydroxyapatite as effective UV-protecting, biocompatible and antibacterial wound dressings'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this