Studies on novel chitosan/alginate and chitosan/bentonite flexible films incorporated with ZnO nano particles for accelerating dermal burn healing: In vivo and in vitro evaluation

This research work was performed to prepare chitosan-alginate-gelatin and chitosan-bentonite-gelatin films in different mass ratios incorporated with nano particles of Zinc Oxide, which were achieved through the method of green synthesis from Nettle leaf extract. The films were prepared and characterized based on their physicochemical properties, such as water absorption and porosity and surface morphology. Bentonite containing films illustrate more flexibility than alginate ones while the chitosan/bentonite composite films have a maximum water absorption capacity of about 170%. The antibacterial activity of the films was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria and it presents good inhibitory activities against the tested bacteria as compared to the control sample. Furthermore, vivo animal tests were performed to confirm the applicability of the prepared films as a healing material for burned skin. Skin appendages, such as hair follicles and sebaceous gland in the dermis, were detected in normal structures by applying both of the composites to damaged skin. In the control sample (gauze), no re-epithelialized area was observed, except in close proximity of the wound border. The results show that due to its full coverage of the wounds with new epithelium and hair follicles, bentonite-containing composites are more preferred.