In vitro cytotoxicity and wound healing activities of quaternary blended carboxymethyl cellulose-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose composite film

A quaternary blended composite film (CHPCHO) of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was prepared with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and cephalexin, honey, and ormocarpum cochinchinense leaf extract by a solvent-casting method. The prepared film was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. The CHPCHO film showed an equilibrium swelling ratio of 5.70 ± 0.11 after 10 h, whereas the water vapor transmission rate was 119 g/m 2 h. The film’s (thickness = 0.29 mm) tensile strength was 1.26 MPa. The prepared film was broken after ~ 37% elongation. The composite CHPCHO film (weight = 50 mg) showed excellent antibacterial activity against S. aureus, which was ascertained from the 38 mm growth inhibition zone. The biocompatibility study of the composite film was performed by MTT assay using fibroblastic cells (L929 cells). The wound healing ability of the CHPCHO film was evaluated by in vitro scratch wound assay. The results imply that the above blending method is an effective way to prepare a composite film with antibacterial and wound-healing activities. Graphical abstract