Biological and Physical Characterisation of a Chitosan Hydrogel for Healing Pressure Sores

Exposed wounds are vulnerable to infections, oxidative stress and susceptible to trauma. This can slow wound healing, lead to potentially life-threatening complications and result in wound chronicity. Current wound treating methods do not wholly address these issues and can be unsustainable. Chitosan hydrogels may be a suitable and even superior alternative for wound dressing. Hydrogels with varying ratios of the crosslinking agent, glutaraldehyde, to chitosan ratios were synthesised. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and its effect on extracellular matrix formation in Lumbricus terrestris wounds were investigated. To ensure that the hydrogel formed is also capable of physically protecting the wound, the Young’s modulus, adhesion energy, tensile strength, water absorption capacity and porosity were also investigated. This gel exhibited statistically significant antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Interestingly, the better promotion of extracellular matrix formation could be stimulated by controlling the glutaraldehyde ratio in the gel. There was also a clear trend between concentration of glutaraldehyde and its mechanical properties, as well as the water content and its mechanical properties. These results indicate the potential of this gel to be developed as an improved, possibly customised wound dressing for the treatment and prevention of chronic wounds.