Functional three-component polymeric biocomposites for the treatment of bedsores

Presented here are the results of investigations into the preparation of three-component dressing materials from various biopolymers in the form of a single-layer film which is suitable as a carrier for pain-relieving (lidocaine) and bacteriostatic (sulphanilamid) therapeutic agents. Physical-chemical, biological and usable properties of the prepared materials were tested and assessed. The amount of added active substance was adopted based on the dose recommended by the Polish Pharmacopeia for external medicinal preparations. Antibacterial activity against gram (-) Escherichia coli and gram (+) Staphylococcus aureus was assessed in some of the biocomposites by quantitative methods. The cytotoxic action in direct contact with the mouse fibroblast NCTC clone 929 was also estimated. Thermal analysis (DSC), infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were employed to investigate the impact of the variable contents of chitosan, alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and the active substance upon the chemical- and phase-structure of the prepared three-component polymeric biocomposites. It was found that the quantitative composition of the biocomposites and the additive of active substances lidocaine and sulphanilamide exert a vital impact upon their physical-mechanical and usable properties (imbibition, absorption). Investigations into the release of the medicinal substance from the investigated biocomposites to an acceptor fluid led to the conclusion that the kinetics of the process may be described by a complex first order rate equation with two exponential functions.