Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications
Hydrogels are 3D networks with an excellent ability to retain a high amount of water or biological fluids, representing suitable candidates for wound dressing applications. They can provide a protective barrier and a moist environment, facilitating wound treatment. The present paper focuses on physi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Gels |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/580 |
| _version_ | 1797589184598245376 |
|---|---|
| author | Ioana-Alexandra Plugariu Maria Bercea Luiza Madalina Gradinaru Daniela Rusu Alexandra Lupu |
| author_facet | Ioana-Alexandra Plugariu Maria Bercea Luiza Madalina Gradinaru Daniela Rusu Alexandra Lupu |
| author_sort | Ioana-Alexandra Plugariu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrogels are 3D networks with an excellent ability to retain a high amount of water or biological fluids, representing suitable candidates for wound dressing applications. They can provide a protective barrier and a moist environment, facilitating wound treatment. The present paper focuses on physical hydrogels obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pullulan (PULL) mixtures in different weight ratios by using the freezing/thawing method. Hybrid hydrogels of similar polymer compositions were prepared in the presence of 0.5% Laponite<sup>®</sup> RD. The influence of polysaccharide and clay addition on the properties of PVA hydrogels was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed evidence of the inner porous structure. The viscoelastic properties were investigated in different shear conditions and revealed the influence of the hydrogel composition on the network strength. The swelling behavior was followed in physiological saline solutions at 37 °C and pH = 7.4. For all samples, a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism was found. The delivery of neomycin sulfate was studied in similar conditions as for the swelling tests (0.15 M NaCl solutions; 37 °C; pH = 7.4) and different kinetic models were used to determine the release mechanism. The Peppas–Sahlin approach described very well the in vitro drug release mechanism from the polymeric hydrogels in the absence of clay. However, the hybrid polymer/clay hydrogels showed the best fit with the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. According to the present study, the porous membranes containing 40–60% PULL (in absence of clay) are suitable for the release of therapeutic agents at wound sites in physiological conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:02:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8bde2a877e1a43cb9b4b46e899fd7c07 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:02:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-8bde2a877e1a43cb9b4b46e899fd7c072023-11-18T19:28:14ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612023-07-019758010.3390/gels9070580Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing ApplicationsIoana-Alexandra Plugariu0Maria Bercea1Luiza Madalina Gradinaru2Daniela Rusu3Alexandra Lupu4“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41-A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, RomaniaHydrogels are 3D networks with an excellent ability to retain a high amount of water or biological fluids, representing suitable candidates for wound dressing applications. They can provide a protective barrier and a moist environment, facilitating wound treatment. The present paper focuses on physical hydrogels obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pullulan (PULL) mixtures in different weight ratios by using the freezing/thawing method. Hybrid hydrogels of similar polymer compositions were prepared in the presence of 0.5% Laponite<sup>®</sup> RD. The influence of polysaccharide and clay addition on the properties of PVA hydrogels was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy showed evidence of the inner porous structure. The viscoelastic properties were investigated in different shear conditions and revealed the influence of the hydrogel composition on the network strength. The swelling behavior was followed in physiological saline solutions at 37 °C and pH = 7.4. For all samples, a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism was found. The delivery of neomycin sulfate was studied in similar conditions as for the swelling tests (0.15 M NaCl solutions; 37 °C; pH = 7.4) and different kinetic models were used to determine the release mechanism. The Peppas–Sahlin approach described very well the in vitro drug release mechanism from the polymeric hydrogels in the absence of clay. However, the hybrid polymer/clay hydrogels showed the best fit with the Korsmeyer–Peppas model. According to the present study, the porous membranes containing 40–60% PULL (in absence of clay) are suitable for the release of therapeutic agents at wound sites in physiological conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/580PVApullulanhybrid hydrogelviscoelastic behaviorswellingdrug delivery |
| spellingShingle | Ioana-Alexandra Plugariu Maria Bercea Luiza Madalina Gradinaru Daniela Rusu Alexandra Lupu Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications Gels PVA pullulan hybrid hydrogel viscoelastic behavior swelling drug delivery |
| title | Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications |
| title_full | Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications |
| title_fullStr | Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications |
| title_short | Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications |
| title_sort | poly vinyl alcohol pullulan composite hydrogels as a potential platform for wound dressing applications |
| topic | PVA pullulan hybrid hydrogel viscoelastic behavior swelling drug delivery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/580 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ioanaalexandraplugariu polyvinylalcoholpullulancompositehydrogelsasapotentialplatformforwounddressingapplications AT mariabercea polyvinylalcoholpullulancompositehydrogelsasapotentialplatformforwounddressingapplications AT luizamadalinagradinaru polyvinylalcoholpullulancompositehydrogelsasapotentialplatformforwounddressingapplications AT danielarusu polyvinylalcoholpullulancompositehydrogelsasapotentialplatformforwounddressingapplications AT alexandralupu polyvinylalcoholpullulancompositehydrogelsasapotentialplatformforwounddressingapplications |