Evaluation of Wound Healing Potential of β-Chitin Hydrogel/Nano Zinc Oxide Composite Bandage

beta-chitin hydrogel/nZnO composite bandage was fabricated and evaluated in detail as an alternative to existing bandages. beta-chitin hydrogel was synthesized by dissolving beta-chitin powder in Methanol/CaCl2 solvent, followed by the addition of distilled water. ZnO nanoparticles were added to the beta-chitin hydrogel and stirred for homogenized distribution. The resultant slurry was frozen at 0A degrees C for 12 h. The frozen samples were lyophilized for 24 h to obtain porous composite bandages. The bandages showed controlled swelling and degradation. The composite bandages showed blood clotting ability as well as platelet activation, which was higher when compared to the control. The antibacterial activity of the bandages were proven against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E.coli). Cytocompatibility of the composite bandages were assessed using human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) and these cells on the composite bandages were viable similar to the Kaltostat control bandages and bare beta-chitin hydrogel based bandages. The viability was reduced to 50-60% in bandages with higher concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and showed 80-90% viability with lower concentration of nZnO. In vivo evaluation in Sprague Dawley rats (S.D. rats) showed faster healing and higher collagen deposition ability of composite bandages when compared to the control. The prepared bandages can be used on various types of infected wounds with large volume of exudates.