WOUND DRESSING FORMULATION FROM SEA CUCUMBER EXTRACT IN CHITOSAN MATRIX

• Main Author: Januarti, Melinda
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/45700
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The purpose of this study was to develop a matrix of chitosan-containing extract of sea cucumber Stichopus variegatus as a natural bioactive to accelerate wound healing. Sea cucumber extract was encapsulated in chitosan microparticles by dispersing in aquose solution of low molecular weight chitosan and extruded into sodium tripolyphosphate solution. A high molecular weight chitosan was used as the main film forming matrix, which was combined with control realease polymers of low molecular weight chitosan (F1) or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) , and with the addition of glycerol as a plasticizer. Sea cucumber extract was added to the film in the form of dispersed particles or encapsulated within microparticles. Chitosan films were prepared by solution casting of polymer admixture followed by oven drying. The films were characterized by mechanical strength and water absorption capacity. The addition of low molecular weight chitosan and PVA did not significantly affect the flexibility of the film, despite the strength of the film based declined significantly. The addition of chitosan microparticles into films increased water absorption capacity significantly (p<0.05). Wound dressing performance in vivo was evaluated to the selected film formulas by applying in rat skin wound, including: low molecular chitosan (F1) or PVA (F2) modified film containing dispersed extract, and also microencapsulated extract (F3). Saline solution and compressed alginate film were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Based on macroscopic observation and wound contraction measurement, it was found that F3 film healed the wound rapidly day 13 with healing rate was twice as fast as the negative control (p <0.05). This result shows that high molecular weight chitosan film containing sea cucumber extract encapsulated in low molecular weight chitosan microparticles is potensial as wound dressing.