Succinyl pullulan-crosslinked carboxymethyl chitosan sponges for potential wound dressing

The crosslinked succinyl pullulan-carboxymethyl chitosan composite sponges (Pullulan-CMCS) were fabricated for potential wound dressing. The structure and micromorphology of Pullulan-CMCS sponges were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. Pullulan-CMCS sponges had lots of porous structures, making it absorb much liquid and quickly reach swelling equilibrium. WVTR results showed that Pullulan-CMCS sponges can reduce the accumulation of wound exudates in a certain degree. Biocompatibility test showed these sponges had no cytotoxicity or hemolytic potential. In vivo experiments demonstrated that Pullulan-CMCS sponges can effectively heal full-layer wound of skin defects of male ICR mice with accelerated fibroblast proliferation and enhanced epithelial migration.