Fabrication of gelatin/ chitosan loading vitamin D scaffold for wound healing application

Abstract

Gelatin (Gel) and chitosan (Cs) were used to develop composite biodegradable films using for biomedical applications. Vitamin D3 (VitD) is an important bioactive food component that can improve calcium absorption and metabolism for bone health and can prevent cancer. This component can also regulate the immune system. The aim of this study is loading Cs/VitD complex to the Gel to make a thin film that improve the healing process. This hydrogel was expected to have the requirements of a material can reduce the time for wound healing. Cs /VitD complex was prepared using sonication methods. After that the scaffold was fabricated by mixing Gel and Cs/VitD complex and cast in petri dish then form a thin film with different ratios of VitD. The properties and characterizations of Cs/VitD complex was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrometer, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Morphology of the complex was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The Gel/Cs/VitD10 scaffold was analyzed the mechanical properties by tensile test. Swelling results proved that the hydrogel had a fast swelling rate. Besides, the thin films was checked a healing ability and biocompatibility of each samples was proved by implant experiment. Results showed that Cs/VitD complex with the amount VitD 10μl has the most advantage to loading with Gel for fabricate the thin film. In conclusion, with those characteristics Gel/Cs/VitD10 scaffold was a potential material to apply as bioadhesive in skin wound healing. However the scaffold need to improve the mechanical properties for biomedical applications. KEY WORDS: Vitamin D3, chitosan, gelatin, hydrogel, skin wound healing.