Enhanced biomedical properties of chitosan-enoxil films

Abstract

Polyphenolic compounds show antioxidant activities by inhibiting the formation of free radicals. Using eco-friendly reactions, which involve oxidation and depolymerization of grape seed tannins, new products for biomedical applications are obtained. Especially, it is of high interest the valorisation of by-products such as grape seeds, which are in considerable quantities in the Republic of Moldova. However, these products are highly labile to environment risk factors. Therefore, the use of polymeric materials, especially by-products such as chitin and chitosan, is a perspective way to design dressing materials such as biomedical films. This paper studies the change of antioxidant activity and bacteria growth inhibition of the synthetized chitosan-Enoxil film. It was demonstrated that the addition of Enoxil to chitosan film in the concentration of 5% improves antibacterial properties against Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Candida utilis. Moreover, these biofilms have proved an efficient inhibition of the cation ABTS radical (0.42 mg-echiv/mL Tox) and DPPH radical (23.66 % remaining DPPHc). Incorporation of polyphenolic acids to chitosan films could improve the overall lifetime of the food products storage.