Characterization and Performance Evaluation of Magnesium Chloride-Enriched Polyurethane Nanofiber Patches for Wound Dressings

Abstract

Mohan Prasath Mani,1,2 Hemanth Ponnambalath Mohanadas,3 Ahmad Athif Mohd Faudzi,4,5 Ahmad Fauzi Ismail,6 Nick Tucker,7 Shahrol Mohamaddan,8 Manikandan Ayyar,9 Tamilselvam Palanisamy,1 Rajasekar Rathanasamy,10 Saravana Kumar Jaganathan11– 13 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, SNS College of Technology, Coimbatore, TN, India; 2School of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, JB, Malaysia; 3Device Development Group, New Product Research and Development, Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA; 4School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia, Skudai, JB, Malaysia; 5Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, SG, Malaysia; 6Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, JB, Malaysia; 7School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, College of Health and Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LS, UK; 8Innovative Global ProgramCollege of Engineering Shibaura Institute of Technology Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; 9Department of Chemistry, Centre for Materials Chemistry, Karapagam Acdemy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, TN, India; 10Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Perunduari, TN, India; 11Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 12School of Engineering & Technology, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 13Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, College of Health and Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, LS, UKCorrespondence: Saravana Kumar Jaganathan, Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Wound patches are essential for wound healing, yet developing patches with enhanced mechanical and biological properties remains challenging. This study aimed to enhance the mechanical and biological properties of polyurethane (PU) by incorporating magnesium chloride (MgCl2) into the patch.Methodology: The composite patch was fabricated using the electrospinning technique, producing nanofibers from a mixture of PU and MgCl2 solutions. The electrospun PU/MgCl2 was then evaluated for various physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties to determine its suitability for wound healing applications.Results: Tensile strength testing showed that the mechanical properties of the composite patch (10.98 ± 0.18) were significantly improved compared to pristine PU (6.66 ± 0.44). Field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that the electrospun nanofiber patch had a smooth, randomly oriented non-woven structure (PU – 830 ± 145 nm and PU/MgCl2 – 508 ± 151 nm). Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed magnesium chloride’s presence in the polyurethane matrix via strong hydrogen bond formation. Blood compatibility studies using coagulation assays, including activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and hemolysis assays, demonstrated improved blood compatibility of the composite patch (APTT – 174 ± 0.5 s, PT – 91 ± 0.8s, and Hemolytic percentage – 1.78%) compared to pristine PU (APTT – 152 ± 1.2s, PT – 73 ± 1.7s, and Hemolytic percentage – 2.55%). Antimicrobial testing showed an enhanced zone of inhibition (Staphylococcus aureus – 21.5 ± 0.5 mm and Escherichia coli – 27.5 ± 2.5 mm) compared to the control, while cell viability assays confirmed the non-cytotoxic nature of the developed patches on fibroblast cells.Conclusion: The study concludes that adding MgCl2 to PU significantly improves the mechanical, biological, and biocompatibility properties of the patch. This composite patch shows potential for future wound healing applications, with further studies needed to validate its efficacy in-vivo.Keywords: wound dressings, polyurethane, MgCl2, biomaterial, nanofibers

Keywords

• wound dressings
• polyurethane
• mgcl2
• biomaterial
• nanofibers