Development of chitosan/ dicarboxylic acid hydrogels as wound dressing materials

Two different dicarboxylic acids (glutamic acid and succinic acid), instead of acetic acid, were used simultaneously as solubilizing and crosslinking agents in the preparation of chitosan-based hydrogel. Sustained, homogeneous and transparent hydrogels were formed with amide linkage formations. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) were used to examine the crystal structure and chemical composition of chitosan/glutamic acid (C/G) hydrogel and chitosan/ succinic acid (C/S) hydrogel, respectively. The in vitro cell cultures confirmed that the amine group was effective in promoting cell affinity. Histological examinations revealed that reepithelialization and regeneration of tissue was achieved 50% faster by dressing the wound with the C/G hydrogels. This chitosan/dicarboxylic acid hydrogel system has potential as wound dressing material.