Phytochemicals, Biodegradation, Cytocompatibility and Wound Healing Profiles of Chitosan Film Embedded Green Synthesized Antibacterial ZnO/CuO Nanocomposite

Open wound ulcer treatment remains a great challenge in wound care management especially involving multi drug resistant (MDR) pathogen. Currently, lack of effectiveness of commercially available wound dressing material is one of the primary factors delaying the wound healing. Therefore, transformation of plain Chitosan (Cs) to antibacterial polymer nanocomposite with embedment of Quercetin-ZnO/CuO biocide through green synthesis approach shed light for an efficient wound healing management. The present work studied the phytochemicals, biodegradation, storage, cytocompatibility and wound healing profiles of Cs film embedded with Quercetin-ZnO/CuO from Calotropis gigantea ( C. gigantea ). HPLC was used to detect Quercetin bioactive constituent. Our cytocompatibility study demonstrated ZnO/CuO-Cs-1wt.% displayed highest cell viability (168.52 ± 14.46%) at 72 h treatment. Besides, the ZnO/CuO-Cs-1wt.% is fully biodegradable. The ZnO/CuO-Cs-1wt.% also exhibited significantly enhanced cell migration (26.81 μm/h) and wound closure (62.35 ± 9.46%) at 12 h. This finding is also supported by our in vivo excisional open wound studies in Sprague-Dawley ( SD ) rats, which showed progressive recovery in 14 days. The controllable release of multiple metal ions from ZnO/CuO-Cs might contribute to the wound recovery. This study highlighted the promising outcomes exhibited from ZnO/CuO-Cs-1wt.% in wound healing management.