Alginate membrane dressing toughened by chitosan floccule to load antibacterial drugs for wound healing

Transparent and flexible alginate-based membranes containing antibacterial drugs were prepared by a casting/solvent evaporation method from alginate solution mixed with chitosan floccule (CSF) and oxidized sodium alginate (OAlg). To improve the properties of the membranes, CSF and OAlg were added to the alginate solution in different ratios. The mechanism of membrane formation is attributed to two aspects: Schiff-base cross-linking between CSF and OAlg; ion cross-linking between sodium alginate and CaCl2. The results showed that the incorporation of CSF and OAlg had a significant effect on the properties of the alginate membrane. With the change in the ratio between CSF and OAlg, the tensile strength, swelling rate, water vapor permeability, wettability and degradation stability of the membranes were significantly changed. In order to enhance the anti-bacterial properties, clindamycin (DA) and silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), which represent water-soluble and water-insoluble drug models, were integrated into the membrane, respectively. The results of controlled release effects and inhibition zones indicate that the alginate membranes containing drugs have a promising future in treatment of bacterial infection as wound dressing.