Evaluation of Plant Bioactive Agent Treated Chitosan Nanofinished Textiles for Antimicrobial and Wound Dressing Applications

Abstract

Wound healing is a fragile and intricate process presenting multiple defies during the various phases in the healing process. The fluids in wounds offer adequate nutrients for microbes to proliferate and cause infections, which can result in pain and discomfort to patients thereby possibly increasing nursing time and treatment cost. For these reasons wound infection remains as a challenge. Hence, the research aims in unleashing the potential of underutilised plants by extracting the plant bioactive agents to formulate novel antimicrobial and wound healing agent for medical textiles. The efficiency of the developed plant extracts finished wound dressing was compared with chitosan and commercial silver wound dressing. The synergistic effect on antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and nano silver in combination with chitosan were also evaluated. Chitosan was synthesised from the shells of Metapenaeusdobsoni species of shrimps and nano silver particles were biosynthesised from silver nitrate. The optimised concentration and temperature for antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts, chitosan and silver was evaluated by testing the antimicrobial efficiency of the treated fabric as per AATCC Test method 90-2011 against E. coli, S. aureus, C. albicans and A. niger. The plant extracts were nano sprayed using nano spray dryer. Nano sprayed plant extracts and chitosan were applied on spun lace viscose with the aid of ultrasonic atomiser and the bioactive wound dressing material was used to fabricate wound dressings. The characteristics like cytotoxicity, sterilisation ability, shelf life, FTIR were evaluated for nano sprayed plant extracts; and SEM analysis, air permeability, tensile strength and elongation, water absorbency tests like drop test, vertical wicking and sinking test, water vapour permeability, thickness, stiffness and drape ability were done for plant extract treated; nano sprayed plant extract treated; chitosan treated and silver nano treated fabric and compared with unfinished fabr