Potential wound dressing with improved antimicrobial property

Cultured skin substitutes have provided a new approach for the closure of wounds, but these avascular grafts are subject to microbial destruction that may lead to tissue infection. To minimize wound infection, HN-300 (a new inorganic antimicrobial particle) was incorporated into the collagen-chitosan wound dressing. Antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, release rate, swelling, and mechanical properties of this material were assessed. The antimicrobial property was enhanced with the increasing dosage of HN-300. When the concentration of HN-300 was more than 5%, the films showed sustained and stable anti microbial property within 144 h. When the concentration of HN-300 was less than 7.5'%, the wound dressings were noncytotoxic and compatible for L929 fibroblasts. So 5%, HN-300 in antimicrobial films was suitable and the concentration also could improve the mechanical properties of the collagen-chitosan wound dressings. After treatment with 5% glycerol, the film's stability was enhanced and silver ions were protected at the same time. Hence, collagen/chitosan/HN-300 films are of great potential in application as wound dressing in future, because of their good biosafety and physical properties. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.