Drug loaded cellulose–chitosan aerogel microfibers for wound dressing applications

Abstract Cellulose and chitosan have been studied for wound dressing due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, lower antigenicity, renewability. The functional structural characteristics of such biopolymers can be dramatically improved by transformation into fibrous bioaerogels outstanding as low density, high porosity, large specific surface area. Producing aerogels in the form fibers textiles not only enhance mechanical properties, stiffness, shapeability but also lead short drying times scalable production processes. Hereby, wet spun chitosan-cellulose aerogel microfibers (CHCLAFs) two ratios 1:5 1:10 produced supercritical CO 2 (scCO ) application. were loaded with ibuprofen (IBU) through post-treatment scCO impregnation. CHCLAF terms morphology, textural thermal stability, vitro assessment drug release, antibacterial cytotoxicity, exudate uptake analyzed compared pure cellulose (CLF). Blended CHCLAFs showed a density (~ 0.18 g/cm 3 ), porosity 85%), area 300 m /g) macro-porous outer shell nano-porous inner core. transformed braided meshes that highly water absorbable 400 wt.%) bactericidal against escherichia coli staphylococcus aureus . Furthermore, structures no cytotoxicity using fibroblast cells, hybrid able release IBU over 48 h sustained manner. results could used promising candidate materials. Graphical abstract