Chronic
wounds require suitable treatment and management strategies for proper healing. Among other causes,
infection delays the healing of
wounds and increases the risk of
wound-related complications. In this study, an inherently antibacterial and biocompatible
wound dressing is developed to enhance the healing. Chemical modification of a natural
polysaccharide, Isabgol with epoxypropyltrimethylammonium
chloride, renders antibacterial activity to the material. This is the first report of such chemical modification of this
polymer for biomedical applications. The modified material is freeze-dried to obtain porous scaffolds. 13C NMR and FTIR analysis confirmed the modification of the Isabgol
polymer chains with
EPTMAC. SEM analysis confirmed the porous structure of the scaffold that would allow the exchange of
gases and nutrients through the matrix. The material can swell up to 17 times its initial weight, allowing it to absorb
wound exudates and maintain a moist environment at the
wound site. Thermogravimetric analysis and compression testing showed that the scaffold has suitable thermal and mechanical properties. The material is antibacterial and can potentially prevent
infections at the
wound site. In vitro studies have confirmed that these scaffolds are cytocompatible and hemocompatible. These properties indicate that the
EPTMAC-modified Isabgol scaffolds would be suitable for
wound dressing applications.