Title: Evaluation of protein/polysaccharide blend biopolymeric material for fabrication of drug eluting wound dressing

Authors: Shailendra Singh Shera; Rathindra Mohan Banik

Addresses: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Rama University Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, India; Bioprocess Technology Laboratory, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India ' Bioprocess Technology Laboratory, School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India

Abstract: Silk fibroin protein and polysaccharide xanthan was mixed in three ratios, i.e., 80:20 (SFX82), 60:40 (SFX64) and 50:50 (SFX55) to fabricate blended dressing and functionalised with antibiotic amoxicillin. The dressings exhibited sustained release of incorporated antibiotics for prolonged period which helped in maintaining therapeutic concentrations of drug for quick wound recovery. The dressings showed biphasic release profile, i.e., burst followed by sustained release. SFX64 showed highest cumulative drug release among all three dressing. Further, SFX64 exhibited smoother surface leading to less bacterial adhesion. Changes in wound size and histological assessments of wound tissues over time confirmed that amoxicillin loaded dressings showed faster healing, higher wound closure rate, regular and thicker formation of epidermis. SFX64 dressing was the best performer with pronounced sustained delivery of antibiotic at therapeutic concentration, smoother surface, and maximum wound recovery of 99.12 ± 0.33%.

Keywords: silk fibroin; xanthan; blends; biphasic; wound healing; wound dressing; sustained drug release; bacterial adhesion; in vivo wound healing; histology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2023.128511

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2023 Vol.41 No.1, pp.16 - 34

Received: 18 Jun 2020
Accepted: 21 Sep 2020
Published online: 25 Jan 2023 *