Composite Wound Dressing Based on Chitin/Chitosan Nanofibers: Processing and Biomedical Applications

An electrospinning technique was used for the preparation of a bilayered wound dressing consisting of a layer of aliphatic copolyamide nanofibers and a layer of composite nanofibers from chitosan and chitin nanofibrils filler. Processed dressings were compared with aliphatic copolyamide nanofiber-based wound dressings and control groups. Experimental studies (in vivo treatment of third-degree burns with this dressing) demonstrated that almost complete (up to 97.8%) epithelialization of the wound surface had been achieved within 28 days. Planimetric assessment demonstrated a significant acceleration of the wound healing process. Histological analysis of scar tissue indicated the presence of a significant number of microvessels and a low number of infiltrate cells. In the target group, there were no deaths or purulent complications, whereas in the control group these occurred in 25% and 59.7% of cases, respectively—and, in the copolyamide group, 0% and 11%, respectively. The obtained data show the high efficiency of application of the developed composite chitosan‒copolyamide wound dressings for the treatment of burn wounds

Effect of Chitin Nanofibrils on Biocompatibility and Bioactivity of the Chitosan-Based Composite Film Matrix Intended for Tissue Engineering

This paper discusses the mechanical and physicochemical properties of film matrices based on chitosan, as well as the possibility of optimizing these properties by adding chitin nanofibrils. It is shown that with the introduction of chitin nanofibrils as a filler, the mechanical stability of the composite materials increases. By varying the concentration of chitin nanofibrils, it is possible to obtain a spectrum of samples with different bioactive properties for the growth of human dermal fibroblasts. Film matrices based on the nanocomposite of chitosan and 5 wt % chitin nanofibrils have an optimal balance of mechanical and physicochemical properties and bioactivity in relation to the culture of human dermal fibroblasts