Theoretical—Experimental Approach of Chitosan/Quaternized Chitosan Nanofibers’ Behavior in Wound Exudate Media
Bianca-Iustina Andreica,
Alexandru Anisiei,
Manuela-Maria Iftime,
Razvan-Vasile Ababei,
Lacramioara Ochiuz,
Decebal Vasincu,
Ingrid-Andrada Vasilache,
Constantin Volovat,
Diana Boboc,
Vladimir Poroch,
Lucian Eva,
Maricel Agop,
Dragos-Viorel Scripcariu,
Simona Ruxandra Volovat
Affiliations
Bianca-Iustina Andreica
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Alexandru Anisiei
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Manuela-Maria Iftime
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Razvan-Vasile Ababei
Laboratory of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, A Building, Physics, Research Center with Integrated Techniques for Atmospheric Aerosol Investigation in Romania, RECENT AIR, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Lacramioara Ochiuz
Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Decebal Vasincu
Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi 700115, Romania
Ingrid-Andrada Vasilache
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Constantin Volovat
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
Diana Boboc
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
Vladimir Poroch
Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Lucian Eva
“Prof. Dr. Nicolae Oblu” Emergency Clinical Hospital, 2 Ateneului Street, 700309 Iasi, Romania
Maricel Agop
Department of Physics, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Dragos-Viorel Scripcariu
Department of Surgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
Simona Ruxandra Volovat
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania
This study aimed to investigate the behavior of chitosan/quaternized chitosan fibers in media mimicking wound exudates to understand their capacities as wound dressing. Fiber analysis of the fibers using dynamic vapor sorption proved their ability to adsorb moisture up to 60% and then to desorb it as a function of humidity, indicating their outstanding breathability. Dissolution analyses showed that quaternized chitosan leached from the fibers in water and PBS, whereas only small portions of chitosan were solubilized in water. In media containing lysozyme, the fibers degraded with a rate determined by their composition and pH, reaching a mass loss of up to 47% in media of physiologic pH. Notably, in media mimicking the wound exudate during healing, they adsorbed moisture even when their mass loss due to biodegradation was high, whereas they were completely degraded in the media of normal tissues, indicating bioabsorbable dressing capacities. A mathematical model was constructed, which characterized the degradation rate and morphology changes of chitosan/quaternized chitosan fibers through analyses of dynamics in scale space, using the Theory of Scale Relativity. The model was validated using experimental data, making it possible to generalize it to the degradation of other biopolymeric systems that address wound healing.
