Castor oil/hydroxyapatite modified chitosan composite scaffolds with antibacterial property for wound healing applications

Castor oil (CO) as an inexpensive green polyol possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. The castor oil/nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) modified chitosan (CS) composite (CO/nHA-CS) with 1. 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt% of nHA-CS were synthesized via solution mixing and casting technique. The crystal structure, surface functional group, thermal stability, morphology, water absorption capacity, porosity, biodegradability, antibacterial activity, and cytocompatibility properties of CO/nHA-CS bionanocomposites have been evaluated. FESEM images showed random and uniform dispersion of nHA-CS fillers throughout the cured CO resin. The degree of porosity, water absorption, and biodegradability of the nanocomposites increased with the increase in nHA-CS loading. Antibacterial activity of scaffolds against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was identified by the diffusion method. The scaffolds were more effective against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli. Cell viability results confirmed that CO/nHA-CS composites have no toxic effects against MRC-5 fibroblast cells. In conclusion, CO/nHA-CS has the potential to be explored as a cheap and effective wound healing material.