Development of κ-carrageenan-PEG/lecithin bioactive hydrogel membranes for antibacterial adhesion and painless detachment

The issue of wound dressing adherence poses a substantial challenge in the field of wound care, with implications both clinically and economically. Overcoming this challenge requires the development of a hydrogel dressing that enables painless removal without causing any secondary damage. However, addressing this issue still remains a significant challenge that requires attention and further exploration. The present study is focused on the synthesis of hydrogel membranes based on κ-carrageenan (CG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and soy lecithin (LC), which can provide superior antioxidant and antibacterial attachment properties with a tissue anti adhesion activity for allowing an easy removability without causing secondary damage. The (CG-PEG)/LC mass ratio was varied to fabricate hydrogel membranes via a facile approach of physical blending and solution casting. The physicochemical properties of (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical analyses. The membranes showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties with excellent flexibility and had high swelling capacity (˃1000 %), which would provide a moist condition for wound healing. The membranes also exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability (>60 %). In addition, the (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes showed reduced peel strength 26.5 N/m as a result of weakening the hydrogel-gelatin interface during an in vitro gelatin peeling test. Moreover, the membrane showed superior antibacterial adhesion activity (>90 %) against both S. aureus and E. coli due to the presence of both PEG and LC. The results also suggested that the hydrogel membranes exhibit NIH3T3 cell antiadhesion property, making them promising material for easy detachment from the healed tissue without causing secondary damage. Thus, this novel combination of (CG-PEG)/LC hydrogel membranes have immense application potential as a biomaterial in the healthcare sector.