ABSTRACT
Recently, much attention has been given to the use of innovative solution for the treatment of infected wounds in animals. Current applied treatments are often un-effective leading to infection propagation and animal death. Novel engineered membranes based on chitosan (CS) can be prepared to combine local antimicrobial effect, high flexibility and easy manipulation. In this work, CS crosslinked porous membranes with improved antimicrobial properties were prepared via freeze-drying technique to promote wound healing and to reduce the bacterial proliferation in infected injuries. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gentamicin sulfate (GS) were incorporated into the CS matrices to impart antibacterial properties on a wild range of strains. CS based porous membranes were tested for their physicochemical, thermal, mechanical as well as swelling and degradation behavior at physiological condition. Additionally, GS release profile was investigated, showing a moderate burst effect in the first days followed by a decreasing release rate which it was maintained for at least 56 days. Moreover, porous membranes loaded with GS or AgNPs showed good bactericidal activity against both of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The bacterial strains used in this work were collected in chelonians after carapace injuries to better mimic the environment after trauma.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Chitosan/chemistry , Silver/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Gentamicins/chemistry , Gentamicins/pharmacology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Wound Healing/drug effectsABSTRACT
The sera of 55 primary autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura patients were examined with indirect immunofluorescence method. The authors intended to verify the sensibility of an indirect method and to determine the class of detected antibody. The test has been positive in 28 of the 55 examined patients (51%). In these patients isolated or associated IgG, IgM, IgA have been detected. The method has shown a fair sensibility, a good reliability and a sure utility in those patients whose severe thrombocytopenia does not allow the execution of a direct method.