Functional properties of chitosan films modified by snail mucus extract

Polymer-Based Wound Dressings Loaded with Essential Oil for the Treatment of Wounds: A Review

Wound healing can result in complex problems, and discovering an effective method to improve the healing process is essential. Polymeric biomaterials have structures similar to those identified in the extracellular matrix of the tissue to be regenerated and also avoid chronic inflammation, and immunological reactions. To obtain smart and effective dressings, bioactive agents, such as essential oils, are also used to promote a wide range of biological properties, which can accelerate the healing process. Therefore, we intend to explore advances in the potential for applying hybrid materials in wound healing. For this, fifty scientific articles dated from 2010 to 2023 were investigated using the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed databases. The principles of the healing process, use of polymers, type and properties of essential oils and processing techniques, and characteristics of dressings were identified. Thus, the plants Syzygium romanticum or Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare, and Cinnamomum zeylanicum present prospects for application in clinical trials due to their proven effects on wound healing and reducing the incidence of inflammatory cells in the site of injury. The antimicrobial effect of essential oils is mainly due to polyphenols and terpenes such as eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol, and thymol.

Snail extract for skin: A review of uses, projections, and limitations

BACKGROUND

Snail mucin is becoming increasingly popular for its wide range of ingredients and potential benefits. Snail extract's widespread appearance in cosmetic formulations encourages an investigation into the medical and cosmetic benefits.

AIMS

This study aims to explore current literature on the variety of snail mucin applications. Specifically, we present a review of the uses, global market estimates and projects, and limitations to snail mucin.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on PubMed reviewing snail mucin and their application in medical and dermatologic fields examining their uses. Economic reports were also investigated for Global Market estimates.

RESULTS

The therapeutic use of snail mucin in medical fields has been studied as antimicrobial agents, drug delivery vehicles, antitumor agents, wound healing agents, and biomaterial coatings among others. Additionally, the use in cosmetic fields includes antiaging, hydrating, anti-acne, scarring, and hyperpigmentation treatments. It is important to highlight that most studies conducted were preclinical or small clinical studies, stressing the need for additional large-scale clinical trials to support these claims. Investigations into the global market found estimates ranging from $457 million to $1.2 billion with upward projections in the upcoming decade. Limitations include ethical habitats for collection, allergy investigation, and missing clinical studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings presented here emphasize the expanding uses of snail mucin and its ingredients alongside a growing market cosmetic industry should consider. We also emphasize the need for appropriate clinical trials into the stated benefits of snail mucin to ensure consumer safety and ethical extraction of mucin.

Snail Mucus-Enhanced Adhesion of Human Chondrocytes on 3D Porous Agarose Scaffolds

This study reports the preparation of a novel porous 3D scaffold from agarose-snail mucus (AGSMu) for cartilage tissue repair applications. AG is reported for its unique thermal and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, making it suitable for biomedical applications. Still, it lacks the cell adhesion properties required for tissue engineering applications. SMu is a complex substance identified to contain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and other bioactive molecules that promote wound healing and reduce cartilage deterioration and inflammation. Hence, porous 3D blend scaffolds containing AG and SMu were prepared by the freeze-drying method, characterized, and investigated for bioactive effects on human chondrocyte (C28/I2) cells. The scaffolds had a microporous structure with an average pore size of 245 μm. FTIR spectroscopy showed that SMu was successfully incorporated into the scaffolds. The SMu increased the mechanical strength of the composite scaffolds by more than 80% compared to the pristine AG scaffold. The scaffolds were found to be biocompatible with tunable degradation. The human chondrocyte cells attached and proliferated well on the 3D scaffolds in a few days, demonstrating a marked improvement in adhesion due to the presence of SMu. Enhanced cell adhesion and mechanical properties of 3D porous AG scaffolds could make them suitable for articular cartilage repair and regeneration.

Extraction, structure, pharmacological activities and applications of polysaccharides and proteins isolated from snail mucus

Snail mucus had medical applications for wound healing as early as ancient Greece and the late Han Dynasty (China). A literature search found 165 modern research papers discussing the extraction methods, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, and applications of snail mucus. Thus, this review summarized the research progress on the extraction, structure, pharmacological activities, and applications of polysaccharides and proteins isolated from snail mucus. The extraction methods of snail mucus include natural secretion and stimulation with blunt force, spray, electricity, un-shelling, ultrasonic-assisted, and ozone-assisted. As a natural product, snail mucus mainly comprises two polysaccharides (glycosaminoglycan, dextran), seven glycoproteins (mucin, lectin), various antibacterial peptides, allantoin, glycolic acid, etc. It has pharmacological activities that encourage cell migration and proliferation, and promote angiogenesis and have antibacterial, anti-oxidative and anticancer properties. The mechanism of snail mucus' chemicals performing antibacterial and wound-healing was proposed. Snail mucus is a promising bioactive product with multiple medical applications and has great potential in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Therefore, this review provides a valuable reference for researching and developing snail mucus.

Bioadhesives with Antimicrobial Properties

Bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties enable easier and safer treatment of wounds as compared to the traditional methods such as suturing and stapling. Composed of natural or synthetic polymers, these bioadhesives seal wounds and facilitate healing while preventing infections through the activity of locally released antimicrobial drugs, nanocomponents, or inherently antimicrobial polers. Although many different materials and strategies are employed to develop antimicrobial bioadhesives, the design of these biomaterials necessitates a prudent approach as achieving all the required properties including optimal adhesive and cohesive properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity can be challenging. Designing antimicrobial bioadhesives with tunable physical, chemical, and biological properties will shed light on the path for future advancement of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties. In this review, the requirements and commonly used strategies for developing bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties are discussed. In particular, different methods for their synthesis and their experimental and clinical applications on a variety of organs are reviewed. Advances in the design of bioadhesives with antimicrobial properties will pave the way for a better management of wounds to increase positive clinical outcomes.

Gastropod Mucus: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biological Activities, Applications, and Strategic Priorities

Terrestrial gastropod mucus exhibits multifunctional attributes, enabling diverse applications. This comprehensive review integrates insights across biomedicine, biotechnology, and intellectual property to elucidate the bioactivities, physicochemical properties, and ecological roles of snail and slug mucus. Following an overview of mucus functional roles in gastropods, promising applications are highlighted in wound healing, antimicrobials, biomaterials, and cosmetics, alongside key challenges. An analysis of global patent trends reveals surging innovation efforts to leverage gastropod mucus. Strategic priorities include bioprospecting natural diversity, optimizing stabilization systems, recombinant biosynthesis, and fostering collaboration to translate promising potentials sustainably into impactful technologies. Ultimately, harnessing the remarkable multifunctionality of gastropod mucus holds immense opportunities for transformative innovations in biomedicine, biotechnology, and beyond.

Chitosan/snail slime films as multifunctional platforms for potential biomedical and cosmetic applications: physical and chemical characterization

Due to the pollution problem, the use of more sustainable materials with a reduced environmental impact, spanning across biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, is growing worldwide in many different fields, particularly when referring to applications in Life Sciences. Accordingly, with the aim of developing multifunctional materials for potential cosmetic/biomedical purposes, this work reports the physical and chemical characterization of chitosan-based films blended with snail slime, exhibiting antioxidant and sunscreen features. A suitable formulation for preparing free-standing chitosan platforms, mixing low molecular weight chitosan, lactic acid, glycerol, and snail slime into an appropriate ratio, is thus described. The results obtained by morphological analysis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, swelling analysis (also when varying pH, ionic strength, and temperature), and WVTR measurements evidence a uniform distribution of snail slime inside the chitosan network, forming more compacted structures. At first, the UV-Vis analysis is used to investigate the theoretical Sun Protection Factor, finding that these innovative platforms can be used for preventing sunburn. Then, the antioxidant features are investigated using the ABTS assay, displaying a snail slime-mediated and dose-dependent boosted activity.

Copaiba essential oil loaded-nanocapsules film as a potential candidate for treating skin disorders: preparation, characterization, and antibacterial properties

Infections have emerged as a novel target in managing skin and mucosa diseases. Bacterial resistance to antimicrobials and biofilm elimination from surfaces remains a challenge. Because polymeric nanocapsules (NC) can increase antimicrobial activity, this study aimed to produce and characterize NC into chitosan films (CSF). Copaiba essential oil (CO) presents antimicrobial activity and was chosen to load NC. In addition, the antibacterial activity was evaluated to obtain a new biodegradable polymeric platform system with the potential to treat topical diseases associated with bacterial infections. The CO-NC produced by nanoprecipitation presented particle size lower than 250 nm, negative charge, and encapsulation efficiency higher than 70 %. Direct incorporation of CO into CSF (CO-CSF) by casting method worsened the film's characteristics. However, incorporating CO-NC into CSF (CO-NC-CSF) avoided these drawbacks demonstrating improved physical, mechanical, morphological, and topographical properties. FTIR results demonstrated possible intermolecular interactions among the polymers and CO. The CO-NC-CSF and CO-CSF presented antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, especially the formulation containing 1 % of CO. These results indicated that CO-NC-CSF is a promising candidate for treating skin disorders.

Improving chitosan performance in the simultaneous adsorption of multiple polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by oligo(β-pinene) incorporation

The occurrence of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic bodies, namely polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been increasingly detected. The presence of such contaminants represents a serious threat to human health due to their toxicity. Therefore, aiming to provide a novel and efficient alternative for PAHs' removal from water, the present study assesses the effect of oligo(β-pinene) blended with chitosan for the adsorption of these pollutants. Oligo(β-pinene) with phenyl end-groups was synthesized by organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) and incorporated in different concentrations (6, 12, and 18 %) to chitosan films. The oligo(β-pinene) loading in the chitosan matrix impressively improved this polysaccharide adsorption capacity. The formulation containing 12 % of oligomer demonstrated a contaminant removal performance three times higher (298.82 %) than pure chitosan during only 1 h of the decontamination process. Adsorption isotherms showed an improved uptake of PAHs with the increase of the contaminants' concentration in the aqueous media due to the formation of a higher concentration gradient. Additionally, a comprehensive characterization of oligo(β-pinene)/chitosan formulation was performed to provide a better understanding of the interactions between the components of the blends. Overall, it was concluded that oligo(β-pinene)/chitosan blends can be used as a high-performance and sustainable alternative for PAHs removal.

Mucus-derived exosome-like vesicles from the Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris): taking advantage of invasive pest species in biotechnology

The slug Arion vulgaris has attracted major attention as one of the worst invasive herbivore pests in Europe and is renowned for the stiff mucus it secretes for locomotion. In this study we focused on the isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles, specifically exosomes and exosome-like vesicles, from Arion secretions. We developed a method for slug mucus collection and subsequent vesicle isolation by ultracentrifugation. The isolated vesicles with an average diameter of ~ 100 nm carry abundant proteins and short RNAs, as well as adhesion molecules similar to mammalian galectins. We demonstrated that the slug extracellular vesicles are internalised by plant cells and human cancer cells in in vitro assays and are loadable by bioactive compounds, which makes them an interesting tool for utilisation in biotechnology.

Edible Snail Production in Europe

Simple Summary

Edible snails are a good source of easily digestible nutrients. They are easy to breed and their farming is more environmentally friendly than traditional livestock: they need little space, use less feed per kg of growth, and emit significantly less greenhouse gases. This review aims to present the most important issues related to the breeding of edible snails in European conditions: their importance, maintaining systems, the value of meat and caviar, and the feed used during the animals’ rearing and fattening period.

Abstract

The human population is growing; food production is becoming insufficient, and the growing awareness of the negative impact of traditional animal husbandry on the environment means that the search for alternative methods of providing animal protein is continuously underway. The breeding of edible snails seems to be a promising option. The most popular species of edible snails in Europe include the brown garden snail Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) (previously divided into two subspecies: Cornu aspersum aspersum (Müller, 1774) and Cornu aspersum maxima (Taylor, 1883)), as well as the Roman Snail—Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758. These animals are highly productive, require relatively little space, are easy to breed and their maintenance does not require large financial outlays. This review focuses on the prospects of food snail farming in Europe. It discusses the living conditions, the nutritional value of the snails’ meat, and the way of feeding the animals, paying particular attention to issues still not scientifically resolved, such as the need for micro and macro elements, as well as fat and carbohydrates.

Effectiveness of Snail Slime in the Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

The development of green, low cost and sustainable synthetic routes to produce metal nanoparticles is of outmost importance, as these materials fulfill large scale applications in a number of different areas. Herein, snail slime extracted from Helix Aspersa snails was successfully employed both as bio-reducing agent of silver nitrate and as bio-stabilizer of the obtained nanoparticles. Several trials were carried out by varying temperature, the volume of snail slime and the silver nitrate concentration to find the best biogenic pathway to produce silver nanoparticles. The best results were obtained when the synthesis was performed at room temperature and neutral pH. UV-Visible Spectroscopy, SEM-TEM and FTIR were used for a detailed characterization of the nanoparticles. The obtained nanoparticles are spherical, with mean diameters measured from TEM images ranging from 15 to 30 nm and stable over time. The role of proteins and glycoproteins in the biogenic production of silver nanoparticles was elucidated. Infrared spectra clearly showed the presence of proteins all around the silver core. The macromolecular shell is also responsible of the effectiveness of the synthesized AgNPs to inhibit Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial growth.

New Zinc-Based Active Chitosan Films: Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties

The improvement of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of chitosan (CS) films can be realized by incorporating transition metal complexes as active components. In this context, bioactive films were prepared by embedding a newly synthesized acylpyrazolonate Zn(II) complex, [Zn(Q^PhtBu)₂(MeOH)₂], into the eco-friendly biopolymer CS matrix. Homogeneous, amorphous, flexible, and transparent CS@Zn_n films were obtained through the solvent casting method in dilute acidic solution, using different weight ratios of the Zn(II) complex to CS and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The X-ray single-crystal analysis of [Zn(Q^PhtBu)₂(MeOH)₂] and the evaluation of its intermolecular interactions with a protonated glucosamine fragment through hydrogen bond propensity (HBP) calculations are reported. The effects of the different contents of the [Zn(Q^PhtBu)₂(MeOH)₂] complex on the CS biological proprieties have been evaluated, proving that the new CS@Zn_n films show an improved antioxidant activity, tested according to the DPPH method, with respect to pure CS, related to the concentration of the incorporated Zn(II) complex. Finally, the CS@Zn_n films were tried out as antimicrobial agents, showing an increase in antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) with respect to pure CS, when detected by the agar disk-diffusion method.

An Overview on the Recent Advances in the Treatment of Infected Wounds: Antibacterial Wound Dressings

A wound can be surgical, cuts from an operation or due to accident and trauma. The infected wound, as a result of bacteria growth within the damaged skin, interrupts the natural wound healing process and significantly impacts the quality of life. Wound dressing is an important segment of the skincare industry with its economic burden estimated at $ 20.4 billion (in 2021) in the global market. The results of recent clinical trials suggest that the use of modern dressings can be the easiest, most accessible, and most cost-effective way to treat chronic wounds and, hence, holds significant promise. With the sheer number of dressings in the market, the selection of correct dressing is confusing for clinicians and healthcare workers. The aim of this research was to review widely used types of antibacterial wound dressings, as well as emerging products, for their efficiency and mode of action. In this review, we focus on introducing antibiotics and antibacterial nanoparticles as two important and clinically widely used categories of antibacterial agents. The perspectives and challenges for paving the way for future research in this field are also discussed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Natural Scaffolds Used for Liver Regeneration: A Narrative Update

Annually chronic liver diseases cause two million death worldwide. Although liver transplantation (LT) is still considered the best therapeutic option, the limited number of donated livers and lifelong side effects of LT has led researchers to seek alternative therapies. Tissue engineering (TE) as a promising method is considered for liver repair and regeneration. TE uses natural or synthetic scaffolds, functional somatic cells, multipotent stem cells, and growth factors to develop new organs. Biological scaffolds are notable in TE because of their capacity to mimic extracellular matrices, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Moreover, natural scaffolds are classified based on their source and function in three separate groups. Hemostat-based scaffolds as the first group were reviewed for their application in coagulation in liver injury or surgery. Furthermore, recent studies showed improvement in the function of biological hydrogels in liver regeneration and vascularity. In addition, different applications of natural scaffolds were discussed and compared with synthetic scaffolds. Finally, we focused on the efforts to improve the performance of decellularized extracellular matrixes for liver implantation.

Climate Smart Regenerative Agriculture to Produce Sustainable Beauty Products: The Case Study of Snail Secretion Filtrate (LX360®)

In the last years, the environmental impacts of cosmetics production have received growing interest from consumers, industries and the scientific community. Therefore, the selection and evaluation of more sustainable ingredients for cosmetic preparations need greater attention. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the environmental impact of snail secretion filtrate (LX360®), which could be used as an alternative cosmetic ingredient. The Carbon Footprint (CF) was used to quantify the kgCO2eq per liter of the LX360® produced in a rearing system farm that follows circularity economy and regenerative agriculture principles. The study computes the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change due to the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices. The CF of the production system was up to 1.76 kg CO2eq L−1, where the extraction stage contributed most. Findings on SOC stock showed a significant increase compared to the previous land-use. The net sequestered CO2 into the soil amounts to 2.07 kg CO2eq L−1; therefore, the production of LX360® showed a positive carbon balance (0.31 kg CO2eq L−1). The application of regenerative agriculture in snail rearing systems positively affects SOC sequestration, and it should be considered as a best management practice for the restoration of degraded land.

O-ATRP synthesized poly(β-pinene) blended with chitosan for antimicrobial and antioxidant bio-based films production

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are important characteristics of active film packaging designed to extend food preservation. In this study, functional bio-based films were produced using different concentrations of antioxidant poly(β-pinene) bio-oligomer synthesized via organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) and blended with chitosan of different molecular weights. The structural, mechanical, thermal, solubility, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of the films were investigated. The poly(β-pinene)-chitosan blends presented significant pores and irregularities with the increase of poly(β-pinene) concentration over 30%. Chitosan molecular weight did not show any important influence in the physical properties of the blends. Poly(β-pinene) load decreased the materials' tensile strength and melting temperature, exhibiting a plasticizing effect on chitosan chains. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the films were improved by poly(β-pinene) incorporation and mainly depended on its concentration. Therefore, the incorporation of poly(β-pinene) in chitosan films can be an alternative for active packaging production.

Novel drug-loaded film forming patch based on gelatin and snail slime

Gelatin-based films enriched with snail slime are proposed as novel biodegradable and naturally bioadhesive patches for cutaneous drug delivery. Films (thickness range 163-248 μm) were stretchable and they adhered firmly onto the wetted skin, especially those with high amount (70% V/V) of snail slime extract. Fluconazole was selected as model drug and added to films containing the highest amount of snail slime. The presence of Fluconazole (4.53 ± 0.07% w/w) did not modify significantly the mechanical properties, the swelling degree and the bioadhesive performances of the films. Structural investigations demonstrated that the crystalline form III of the drug changed to the amorphous one, forming an amorphous solid dispersion. Moreover, snail slime prevented the drug recrystallization over time. In vitro permeation studies showed that film exhibited a cumulative drug concentration (over 60% in 24 h) similar to that of the control solution containing 20% w/V of ethanol. Fluconazole-loaded gelatin films proved to be effective towards clinical isolates of Candida spp. indicating that the drug maintained its remarkable antifungal activity once formulated into gelatin and snail slime-based films. In conclusion, snail slime, thanks to its peculiar composition, has proved to be responsible of optimal skin adhesion, film flexibility and of the formation of a supersaturating drug delivery system able to increase skin permeation.

Chitosan Films Incorporated with Exopolysaccharides from Deep Seawater Alteromonas Sp

Two Alteromonas sp. strains isolated from deep seawater were grown to promote the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS, E611 and E805), which were incorporated into chitosan solutions to develop films. The combination of the major marine polysaccharides (chitosan and the isolated bacterial EPS) resulted in the formation of homogenous, transparent, colorless films, suggesting good compatibility between the two components of the film-forming formulation. With regards to optical properties, the films showed low values of gloss, in the range of 5-10 GU, indicating the formation of non-glossy and rough surfaces. In addition to the film surface, both showed hydrophobic character, with water contact angles higher than 100 º, regardless of EPS addition. Among the two EPS under analysis, chitosan films with E805 showed better mechanical performance, leading to resistant, flexible, easy to handle films.

Improving physical and biological properties of nylon monofilament as suture by Chitosan/Hyaluronic acid

One way to give some properties such as antibacterial and good frictional properties to sutures is the application of natural antibacterial and hydrophilic components on their surfaces through layer by layer assembly (LBL) technique. In this regard, Chitosan as an antibacterial polycationic natural polymer along with Hyaluronic acid (HA) as a polyanionic polysaccharide could be used to form a polyelectrolyte complex. In this study, HA was extracted from rooster comb using different solvents. Characterization of the extracted HA by FTIR and GPC analysis showed extracted HA with M_w = 2.53 × 10⁵ Da had no cytotoxicity. Then, a nylon monofilament (NMy) was coated by the extracted HA and chitosan with different concentrations using bilayer coating technique. Two dyes also were loaded to coating layer to investigate the release behavior of these two drug models. The morphology of coated layer showed that coating NMy by chitosan (4% w/v) following by HA (8% w/v) with roughness of 164 ± 129 nm and friction coefficient of 0.26 had suitable interaction between two layers to prevent from exfoliation of coating layers. The antibacterial activity and controlled release of coated NMy indicated how a NMy coated by Chitosan and HA is a promising material for using as a suture.

Crosslinking of Chitosan with Dialdehyde Chitosan as a New Approach for Biomedical Applications

Materials based on natural high molecular compounds are particularly interesting for biomedical applications. It is known that the cross-linking agent used for preparation of biomacromolecule-based materials is as important as used biopolymer. Therefore, natural cross-linkers containing reactive carbonyl groups are of great interest especially for modifying properties of natural polysaccharides. One of the most popular cross-linking agents is glutaraldehyde. Nevertheless, the unreacted particles can be released from the cross-linked material and cause cytotoxic effects. This can be eliminated when using a cross-linker based e.g., on polysaccharides. This article describes quick and efficient synthesis of dialdehyde chitosan (DACS) and its application for the preparation of chitosan films. Materials obtained with different amount of DACS were fully characterized in terms of structure and surface morphology. Thermal and mechanical properties as well as hydrophilic character were also examined. The results obtained were compared with the materials obtained by cross-linking chitosan with low molecular weight glutaraldehyde and high molecular weight cross-linking agent based on polysaccharide-dialdehyde starch. Toxicity of all obtained materials was tested using the Microtox® test. It has been shown that due to better mechanical, thermal and surface properties as well as lower toxicity, dialdehyde chitosan is a very promising crosslinking agent.

Chitosan Film Containing Mansoa hirsuta Fraction for Wound Healing

Chitosan films entrapped with the Mansoa hirsuta fraction (CMHF) was developed as a new dressing for wound care. The chromatographic profile of the M. hirsuta fraction (MHF) was evaluated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and the results showed that MHF is rich in acid triterpenes. Physicochemical characterization of the films prepared using the solvent casting method was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DCS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and mechanical properties. CMHF exhibited characteristic bands of both chitosan and MHF, revealing a physical mixture of both. CMHF presented an amorphous nature, thermostability, and dispersion of MHF in the chitosan matrix, resulting in a rough structure. Incorporation of M. hirsuta fraction into chitosan matrix favorably enhanced the mechanical performance and films thickness. The in vivo wound treatment with CMHF for seven days showed a characteristic area of advanced healing, re-epithelization, cell proliferation, and collagen formation. Furthermore, wound closure reached 100% contraction after 10 days of treatment with modulation of interleukins. The incorporation of M. hirsuta fraction into chitosan films was advantageous and showed great potential for stimulating wound repair and regeneration.

Chitosan Film with Citrus limonia Essential Oil: Physical and Morphological Properties and Antibacterial Activity

The development of active packaging for food preservation is attracting increased attention due to serious environmental problems caused by synthetic and conventional materials. In the present study, the physical, chemical, optical, microstructural, and antibacterial properties of chitosan films with Citrus limonia essential oil (CEO) were investigated. The incorporation >0.75% of CEO increased the thickness of the films. The incorporation >0.25% of CEO reduced the moisture content and the water vapor permeability of the chitosan films. The biodegradability of the films over ten days ranged from 55.46–62.65% and was not affected by the addition of CEO. All films showed good UV light barrier properties, and the incorporation of the CEO caused a decrease in the visible light transmission rate values. The addition of CEO changed the color of the bioactive films significantly, remain darker and yellowish. The bioactive films showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, but not against Escherichia coli. The films showed a heterogeneous microstructure with oil droplets retained in the continuous polysaccharide network. The results showed that chitosan films with CEO are promising as an active packaging material for food preservation.

Tripolyphosphate crosslinked Triticum aestivum (wheatgrass) functionalized antimicrobial chitosan: Ameliorating effect on physicochemical, mechanical, invitro cytocompatibility and cell migration properties

Polymeric films for various biomedical applications require to be biocompatible and non- toxic. Chemical route of modifications for functionalization of the films for improved properties lead to undesirable effects for biological applications. Hence a natural way to enhancing their properties is by functionalizing them using plant extracts. This report investigates the synthesis of bioactive phytochemical loaded polymer using Triticum aestivum (wheatgrass) extract incorporated in tripolyphosphate crosslinked chitosan. Physical and mechanical properties of the extract functionalized crosslinked chitosan were analyzed and this showed significant changes in thickness, tensile strength and % elongation of the blend. The extract functionalized chitosan was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX) confirming the interaction between the functional moieties of the extract and polymer. Antimicrobial analysis showed improved activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococus aureus and Candida albicans. Presence of the extract in crosslinked chitosan enhanced the cytocompatibility in 3T3 cells carried out by MTT assay and showed improved cell migration properties determined by scratch assay.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.