Chitosan composite films. Biomedical applications.

Chitosan acetate films have been prepared using chitosans from shrimps (Pleuroncodes monodon) of low and high molecular weight (LMv = 68,000 g/mol and HMv = 232,000 g/mol) and deacetylation degree of 80 and 100%, respectively. The chitosan films were obtained by addition of several additives to acetic acid chitosan solutions, such as: glycerol, oleic acid and linoleic acid in different proportions. The pH of the solutions before casting ranged from 5.0 to 6.0. The composite film thickness are reported. The films have been analyzed by FTIR showing characteristic bands corresponding to the additives. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies reveals the different morphology of the composite films. The films exhibit different physical properties depending upon the additives and/or mixture of them. The addition of glycerol to composite improves the elasticity of the films. The swelling in glucose and saline solutions for several films was evaluated, being higher in the glucose solution. The bactericide test against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomona aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii in plates with either blood and or agar tripticase showed that the molecular weight influences on the bactericidal properties of the chitosan composite films and over its effect against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Medical applications of the composite films were done in patients with burns, ulcers and injuries, the films containing glycerol showed good adhesion in comparison with those without it. The composite films tested were mainly three (1) chitosan acetate with glycerol, (2) chitosan acetate with oleic acid and (3) chitosan acetate with glycerol and oleic acid. Excellent results in the skin recovery were obtained after 7-10 days. Since the chitosan is biodegradable by the body enzymes it does not need to be removed and increases the gradual grows of the damage tissues.