Chitosan-glucan complex hollow fibers reinforced collagen wound dressing embedded with aloe vera. Part I: Preparation and characterization

Collagen (CO)/chitosan-glucan complex (CSGC) hollow fibers encapsulated aloe vera (AV) dressing scaffold (CO/CSGC@AV) were fabricated for the first time by the freeze-dried process. Extraction process, morphology, mechanical properties, pore size, porosity, swelling ability, and degradation behavior of composites scaffold were investigated. CSGC hollow fibers were extracted from mycelium of Schizophyllum commune CSGC hollow fiber exhibited inner diameter of (600 +/- 250 nm) and outer fiber diameter of (2.5 +/- 0.5 mu m). The results of swelling and hydrolytic degradation studies demonstrated that the physicochemical of CO/CSGC@AV was significantly enhanced by CSGC in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanical property of the CO/CSGC@AV was improved after encapsulated AV into CSGC hollow fibers compared with native CO. The pore size and porosity of the CO/CSGC@AV were slightly decreased in the presence of AV. All these results suggested that the new dressing scaffold has a potential for clinical skin regeneration, particularly for infected chronic wounds and ulcers.