(430c) Effects of the Production Conditions on the Properties of Fibrous Chitosan-Alginate Membranes Designed for Skin Burn Repair

Burns are one of the most traumatic lesions in the skin. Third-degree burns destroy all skin layers and extend into deeper tissues, resulting in scarring, infection, and fluid loss. Artificial wound dressings, as well as skin grafts, are often required to repair these deep burns. Membranes composed by chitosan, a polysaccharide obtained from deacetylation of chitin, and alginate, a polysaccharide obtained from seaweed, have demonstrated potential to be used as burn dressings. Both compounds are nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible. Since reproducible and easily scalable methods leading to homogenous membrane formation are of interest in this particular area, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects on biomaterial properties of the conditions employed during the production of chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex membranes in aqueous suspensions containing ethanol. The produced membranes, after reticulation with calcium chloride, were physically, biologically and mechanically characterized. The influence of different stirring rates and rates of addition of chitosan solution to alginate solution on final membrane characteristics was analyzed through statistical experimental design. The membranes obtained under a flow ratio from 30 to 40 mL/h and mechanical stirring from 300 to 500 rpm meet the desired performance requirements, presenting highly satisfactory visual aspects, effective protection from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus permeation, water uptake of 25 g of H2O per gram of dried membrane, maximum mass loss of 17% when stored in water and high water drainage capacity (around 12 kg/m2.day). Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank to CNPq for financial support and Acecil Central de Esterilização Comércio e Indústria Ltda (Campinas, SP, Brazil) for membranes sterilization.