Investigation of Regenerated Cellulose/Poly(acrylic acid) Composite Films for Potential Wound Healing Applications: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Regenerated cellulose/poly(acrylic acid) composite films have been synthesized for wound dressing applications. The water absorbency of these films was studied as a function of amount of cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide and cellulose contents in the feed mixture. The samples, having different compositions, showed tensile strength and percent elongation in the range of 9.98 × 10 5 to 13.40 × 10 5 N/m 2 and 110 to 265, respectively. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) for various films was found to be in the range of 2.03 to 7.18 mg/cm 2 /h. These films were loaded with antibacterial drug miconazole nitrate and their release was studied in the physiological pH at 37°C. The release data was found to fit well the diffusion controlled Higuchi model. Finally the films demonstrated fair antibacterial and antifungal action, thus establishing their strong candidature as wound dressing materials.