A novel candidate for wound dressing: Transparent porous maghemite/cellulose nanocomposite membranes with controlled release of doxorubicin from a simple approach

- The preparing process is simple and the nanocomposite membranes are biocompatible.
- The nanocomposite membranes have interpenetrating porous structure.
- Transparent property allows daily visual inspections without dressing removal.
- The nanocomposite membranes were applied for controlled release of DOX.

The aim of this study is to develop transparent maghemite/cellulose nanocomposite membranes with high porosity, high adsorption capacity and controlled release of doxorubicin to be used as a candidate for wound dressing. The membranes were fabricated by a tape casting method through blending a homogeneous dispersion of citrate coated maghemite nanoparticles and cellulose in the NaOH/urea aqueous solution system. The prepared membranes were characterized by Light transmittance measurements, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Tensile tests and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Furthermore, porosity, swelling behavior, water loss ratio and Bovine serum albumin adsorption capacity were evaluated. Drug loading and release was investigated using doxorubicin hydrochloride as a model drug. In vitro cytotoxicity and cells morphology assays of cells growth and proliferation were also studied. This study served as a demonstration of the feasibility of maghemite/cellulose nanocomposite membranes for loading and release of bioactive compounds as a candidate for wound dressing.

The transparent and porous MCNM with high drug adsorption capacity were fabricated by tape casting method by blending a homogeneous dispersion of citrate modified maghemite and cellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous solution system. Transparent wound dressings offer the advantages of allowing daily visual inspections without dressing removal and can typically be changed less frequently. The structure and properties of the membranes were deduced to demonstrate that MMNP is well-dispersed in the cellulose matrix. Meanwhile, MCNM demonstrated improved equilibrium swelling ratio, water retention and blood compatibility than CM. In vitro DOX release study demonstrated strong potential of MCNM as matrices for pH-sensitive release of hydrophobic drug. Cytotoxicity and cells morphology assay showed the biocompatibility of these nanocomposite membranes. This work provided a proof-of-concept demonstration of these membranes for loading and release of bioactive compounds (e.g. antibiotics and growth factors), and confirmed their applicability for wound dressings.136