Cytotoxicity testing of a polyurethane nanofiber membrane modified with chitosan/β-cyclodextrin/berberine suitable for wound dressing application: evaluation of biocompatibility.

In this study we evaluated the biocompatibility of a modified polyurethane nanofiber membrane on a polypropylene spunbond substrate. This material was treated with plasma using diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge, and subsequent modification was done by continuous spraying of a biologically active chitosan solution (CHIT) containing an inclusion complex of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) encapsulating berberine (BRB). Biocompatibility was evaluated using several in vitro assays. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and 3T3 murine fibroblasts were used as biological models. The results of these assays showed that a polyurethane nanofiber membrane modified by CHIT/β-CD/BRB appears to be non-toxic and biocompatible; potentially, it could be used as a wound dressing after further testing.