Preparation and characterization of chitosan/sodium cellulose sulfate/silver nanoparticles composite films for wound dressing

Chitosan/sodium cellulose sulfate (CS/NaCS) composite film incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for wound dressing was prepared. Morphology, mechanical properties, porosity, water vapor transmission rate, and water absorption properties of CS/NaCS composite films were investigated. It was demonstrated that the composite film with the CS, NaCS mass ratio of 2:1 had a porous structure with a porosity of 82.40 ± 1.05%. The swelling rate and water vapor transmission rate of CN21 composite films were 1670.7 ± 37.5% and 1053.8 ± 19.1 g·m -2 ·d -1 , respectively. The CS/NaCS/AgNPs composite film showed excellent antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus . The hemolysis rate of CS/NaCS/AgNPs composite film is less than 5%, which could be considered to meet the requirements of biomedical materials. In addition, the CS/NaCS/AgNPs composite film exhibited favorable cytocompatibility and the wound closure rate treated by CS/NaCS/AgNPs film reached to 96.17 ± 1.05% after 12 days. In other words, the CS/NaCS/AgNPs composite film could promote wound tissue contraction and internal tissue growth, showing a good wound healing effect. Thus the CS/NaCS/AgNPs composite film has potential application in wound dressing.