Multifunctional Polysaccharide-Based Bionanomaterial for Medical Applications

Abstract

The design of biomaterials has been mostly limited to their diverse individual features and is used in specific sectors, including biomedical or food. In terms of fabrication and characterisation of multifunctional engineered materials, increasing interest has arisen on the combination of several features in recent years. Composites, a combination of a fibrous compound embedded in a polymer or a nonorganic matrix, are among the most interesting examples. Various polysaccharides have been widely investigated for the development of biomaterials for different applications. The functional group in a molecular chain of chitosan may facilitate the formation of interactions that permit interconnected structures within chitosan-based composites. Here, we report on the development of a new multifunctional chitosan-based composite. The resulting films were fabricated by the casting/solvent evaporation method. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the occurrence of molecular interconnection between the polysaccharide and pyomelanin via the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the compounds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed a porous and texture structure of the films. The antimicrobial effect of the material was observed against both strains of bacteria and fungi. Moreover, no toxicity of the composite toward mouse and human cells was proved, thus demonstrating the potential of the materials for medical applications.