Thymol incorporated gellan gum/carboxymethyl cellulose/hyaluronic acid films for wound dressings applications

In the presented study, thymol-containing wound dressing films were prepared in the presence of polysaccharide gellan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose and hyaluronic acid polymers by solvent casting technique. The structure of the obtained films was characterized by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The swelling ratios of the thymol-containing films were adequate to supply a moist environment (& SIM; 829%, for 24 h measurement) and underwent a hydrolytic degradation (& SIM; 55%, for 21 days measurement). The water vapor transmission rates were moderate for sufficient moisture (& SIM; 2376 g/m2/day). According to the findings, the addition of thymol to the polymeric films increased the elongation at break value. The cumulative release amounts of thymol were increased from 4.42 & PLUSMN; 0.40 mg thymol/g film to 6.25 & PLUSMN; 0.39 mg thymol/g film by increasing thymol concentration in the formulation. In vitro biocompatibility and wound healing tests were also performed against the L929 fibroblast cell line. The findings demonstrated that the migration and proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells were greatly improved by the formulation of non-toxic polysaccharide-based 5% (w) thymol-containing film (GCH-5), and therefore it could be a potential wound dressing material for the clinical use.

Automated summary

In this study, thymol-containing wound dressing films were prepared using polysaccharide polymers. The films exhibited suitable swelling ratios, hydrolytic degradation, and water vapor transmission rates for wound healing applications. The addition of thymol increased the elongation at break value of the films and influenced the release amount of thymol. Furthermore, the films showed good biocompatibility and enhanced migration and proliferation of fibroblast cells.