<i>Capparis sepiaria</i>-Loaded Sodium Alginate Single- and Double-Layer Membrane Composites for Wound Healing
Sindi P. Ndlovu,
Keolebogile S. C. M. Motaung,
Mapula Razwinani,
Sibusiso Alven,
Samson A. Adeyemi,
Philemon N. Ubanako,
Lindokuhle M. Ngema,
Thierry Y. Fonkui,
Derek T. Ndinteh,
Pradeep Kumar,
Yahya E. Choonara,
Blessing A. Aderibigbe
Affiliations
Sindi P. Ndlovu
Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, South Africa
Keolebogile S. C. M. Motaung
Global Health Biotech Pty Ltd., Pretoria 0087, South Africa
Mapula Razwinani
Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Sibusiso Alven
Department of Chemistry, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha 6001, South Africa
Samson A. Adeyemi
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Philemon N. Ubanako
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Lindokuhle M. Ngema
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Thierry Y. Fonkui
Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
Derek T. Ndinteh
Drug Discovery and Smart Molecules Research Labs, Centre for Natural Product Research, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
Pradeep Kumar
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Yahya E. Choonara
Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
Blessing A. Aderibigbe
Department of Chemistry, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, South Africa
Background: Effective wound dressing is the key solution to combating the increased death rate and prolonged hospital stay common to patients with wounds. Methods: Sodium alginate-based single- and double-layer membranes incorporated with Capparis sepiaria root extract were designed using the solvent-casting method from a combination of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Pluronic F127 (PF127), and gum acacia. Results: The successful preparation of the membranes and loading of the extract were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The prepared membranes were biodegradable and non-toxic to human skin cells (HaCaT), with high biocompatibility of 92 to 112% cell viability and good hemocompatibility with absorbance ranging from 0.17 to 0.30. The membrane’s highest water vapor transmission rate was 1654.7333 ± 0.736 g/m2/day and the highest % porosity was 76%. The membranes supported cellular adhesion and migration, with the highest closure being 68% after 4 days compared with the commercial wound dressings. This membrane exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity against the pathogens responsible for wound infections. Conclusions: The distinct features of the membranes make them promising wound dressings for treating infected wounds.
