Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
7329266 
Journal Article 
Films of chitosan and natural modified hydroxyapatite as effective UV-protecting, biocompatible and antibacterial wound dressings 
Cunha, CS; Castro, PJ; Sousa, SC; Pullar, RC; Tobaldi, DM; Piccirillo, C; Pintado, MM 
2020 
Yes 
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
ISSN: 0141-8130
EISSN: 1879-0003 
159 
1177-1185 
English 
32416293 
Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide widely used in biomedicine, for instance for wound dressing. Hydroxyapatite is a very bioactive calcium phosphate which, if modified with an appropriate element (iron Fe), can also have UV-absorbing properties. In this work, we report the study of films of chitosan incorporated with iron-modified hydroxyapatite of natural origin (from cod fish bones); this combination led to an innovative chitosan-based material with excellent and advanced functional properties. The films showed very high UV absorption (Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value higher than 50). This is the first time that a chitosan-based material has shown such high UV protection properties. The films also showed to be non-cytotoxic, and possessed antimicrobial activity towards both Gram-positive and negative strains. Their mechanical properties, optimised with an experimental design approach, confirmed their potential use as multifunctional wound dressing, capable of reducing bacterial infections and, at the same time, protecting from UV light.