Fabrication and characterization of a novel wound scaffold based on polyurethane added with Channa striatus for wound dressing applications

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex process and it involves restoration of damaged skin tissues. Several wound dressings comprising naturally made substances are constantly investigated to assist wound healing. In this research, a new wound dressing based on polyurethane (PU) supplemented with essence of Channa striatus (CS) fish oil was made by electrospinning. Morphological study depicted the reduction in fiber diameter than PU with the addition of fish oil (0.552 ± 0.109 μm for 8:1 v/v% and 0.519 ± 0.196 μm 7:2 v/v%) than the pristine PU (0.971 ± 0.205 µm). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of fish oil in the composite as identified through increasing peak intensity. Fish oil resulted in the hydrophilic behavior (88 ± 3 (8:1 v/v) and 70 ± 6 (7:2 v/v)) as revealed in the contact angle analysis. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed the superior thermal behavior of the wound dressing patch compared to the PU. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis insinuated a decrease in the surface roughness of the pristine polyurethane with the added fish oil. Coagulation assays signified the delay in the blood clotting time portraying its anti-thrombogenic behavior. Hemolytic assay revealed the less toxic nature of the developed nanocomposites with the red blood cells (RBC’s) depicting its safety with blood. Hence, polyurethane nanofibers supplemented with fish oil made them as deserving candidates for wound dressing application.