Porous Curdlan-Based Hydrogels Modified with Copper Ions as Potential Dressings for Prevention and Management of Bacterial Wound Infection—An In Vitro Assessment

Abstract

Bacterial infections at the wound site still remain a huge problem for current medicine, as they may lead to development of chronic wounds. In order to prevent such infections, there is a need to use wound dressings that possess ability to inhibit bacterial colonization. In this study, three new curdlan-based biomaterials modified with copper ions were fabricated via simple and inexpensive procedure, and their structural, physicochemical, and biological properties in vitro were evaluated. Received biomaterials possessed porous structure, had ability to absorb high amount of simulated wound fluid, and importantly, they exhibited satisfactory antibacterial properties. Nevertheless, taking into account all evaluated properties of new curdlan-based biomaterials, it seems that Cur_Cu_8% is the most promising biomaterial for management of wounds accompanied with bacterial infections. This biomaterial exhibited the best ability to reduce Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth and moreover, it absorbed the highest amount of simulated wound fluid as well as enabled optimal water vapor transmission. Furthermore, Cur_Cu_8% biomaterial possessed the best values of selective indexes, which determine its potential safety in vitro. Thus, Cur_Cu_8% hydrogel may be considered as a promising candidate for management of infected wounds as well as it may constitute a good platform for further modifications.

Curdlan-Based Hydrogels for Potential Application as Dressings for Promotion of Skin Wound Healing—Preliminary In Vitro Studies

“…An “ideal” dressing should reduce excessive dehydration of skin as well as preventing exudate buildup. Thus, its WVTR should be close to 2000–2500 g/m 2 /day [ 34 , 71 , 73 ]. The results obtained for curdlan-based biomaterials and KALTOSTAT ® dressing indicate that they should allow for proper water vapor permeability and should maintain a moist environment at the wound site without undue dehydration.…”

“…In order to assess the ability of biomaterials to absorb wound exudate, the experiment was carried out using simulated wound fluid (SWF), according to a procedure described previously [ 34 ]. Briefly, curdlan-based biomaterials and KALTOSTAT ® samples were weighed in the dry state and then immersed in SWF (room temperature).…”

“…The water vapor transmission test was carried out according to a procedure described previously [ 34 ]. For this purpose, silica gel with indicator (5 g) was put into glass vials (diameter of mouth was 1 cm) and they were subjected to drying (Drying oven SUP-65, Wamed, Warsaw, Poland).…”

“…As a control extract, appropriate EMEM medium (with 2% or 10% FBS) incubated without biomaterials was utilized. The ISO 10993-5:2009 standard guidelines [ 37 ] are commonly applied for the evaluation of biological properties in vitro of biomaterials with biomedical potential [ 33 , 34 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…Wojcik et al [ 33 ] fabricated biocompatible curdlan/agarose and curdlan/chitosan dressings with superabsorbent ability. In turn, our recent study demonstrated that curdlan-based biomaterials enriched with copper ions possess antibacterial activity but simultaneously exhibit cytotoxicity towards fibroblast cells [ 34 ]. The aim of the current work was to determine whether curdlan-based hydrogels enriched with calcium ions are suitable candidates as dressings for the acceleration of wound healing.…”