Quercetin impregnated chitosan-fibrin composite scaffolds as potential wound dressing materials - Fabrication, characterization and in vivo analysis.

The present study efforts at fabricating chitosan-fibrin composite (CF) scaffolds impregnated with quercetin for wound dressing application and aims at investigating their physicochemical properties. CF scaffolds were prepared by mixing acidic solution of chitosan with an alkaline solution of fibrin, to which quercetin (Q) was added, homogenized and lyophilized obtain Q-CF scaffold. FTIR spectra were used to determine the interactions between the functional groups of quercetin and CF scaffolds. TGA analysis revealed the decomposition of saccharide rings and amino acids of chitosan and fibrin at the temperature range of 255-400°C. Q-CF scaffold exhibited maximum tensile strength of 1.45MPa, an ideal mechanical strength for a wound dressing material. Q-CF scaffolds exhibited good bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Biocompatibility of Q-CF scaffold was assessed using MTT assay, which elucidated its non-toxic property and excellent suitability for tissue engineering applications. In vivo wound healing experiments performed using albino rats revealed that topical application of Q-CF scaffold on open excision type of wounds can significantly accelerate the process of wound healing. These results suggest that Q-CF scaffold could serve as a promising wound dressing material.