Biological properties of the chitosan-gelatin sponge wound dressing

In order to testify the safe reliability, antibacterial property and wound healing ability in clinic application of the chitosan-gelatin sponge wound dressing (CGSWD), a lot of experiments were executed : (1) A series of toxicological evaluations of the CGSWD were performed. (2) The antibacterial properties of the CGSWD obtained by different dryness ways were investigated, and then compared the antibacterial properties with cefradine, ciprofioxacin and penicillin to ascertain how its antibacterial property is. (3) The animal wound model was made on the back of New Zealand rabbit, and treated respectively with vaseline sterile gauze, 0.2% (v/v) ethacridine and CGSWD. The wound skin tissues at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 14th day after initial wounding were observed with naked eyes first, then all the skin tissues at the 14th day after initial wounding and normal skin without wounding were observed on SEM. The results showed that as a kind of surgical wound dressing, the CGSWD is of safe reliability, good antibacterial property. The antibacterial effect of CGSWD dried by vacuum dryness on Escherichia coli K88 is better than that of penicillin, and the effect on Streptococcus is also better than that of cefradine. CGSWD makes the wound contract obviously, and the wound healing time of treatment with CGSWD is shorter than that with vaseline sterile gauze. Still, the scar formed after healing did not protrude over the skin surface conspicuously. The healing effect of CGSWD superior to that by 0.2% (v/v) ethacridine. Therefore, the CGSWD is a kind of excellent wound healing material. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.