THE PROPERTIES OF CHITOSAN NANOEMULSION/ POLY (VINYL ALCOHOL) NANOCOMPOSITE MEMBRANES FOR WOUND CARE TREATMENT

The influence of chitosan nano-emulsion (CSNe) concentrations on the properties of CSNe reinforced poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposites is the aim of this study. Polymer solution of CSNe with different concentrations combined with PVA having a low (PVAL) and high (PVAH) molecular weight (Mw), respectively, was fabricated to be the nanocomposite membranes by an electrospinning technique. The morphological characterization of the nanofiber formed in the membranes and the chemical group of PVA and chitosan analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The tensile properties of all the membrane specimens were tested according to the ASTM D-882. The neat-PVAL and CSNe/PVAL nanocomposite membranes were subjected to the in Vivo test of the open incision on mice. The results showed that an increase of CSNe concentration decreased the viscosity of CSNe-PVA polymer solution but increased the electrical conductivity. Those conditions reduced the nanofiber diameter with various fiber structures. Membranes used PVAL yielded in higher tensile strength and lower tensile modulus than those used PVAH. In Vivo test results of the CSNe/PVAL membrane showed acceptable effectiveness in the wound care treatment to the Sofra-tulle commercial membrane containing antibiotics, and both were better than the neat-PVA membrane. Thus, the CSNe/PVAL provides a promising chance for an alternative wound cover membrane.