antibiofilm-activity-of-activated-carbon-film-wound-dressing

Abstract

Background: Biofilm is a structured community of bacterial cells enclosed in a self-produced matrix containing 80% extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). When biofilms are present on the wound surface, they impair optimal penetration of antimicrobials resulting in delayed healing. Chronic wounds are likely to be impacted since the wound may be moist and purulent which are conducive for biofilm growth. Objective: To develop and characterise hydrogel films containing AC at various concentrations and to study the antibiofilm activities of the produced films through in vitro approach on two common biofilm strains, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: An approach was suggested in this study by utilising the high adsorptive capacity of activated carbon (AC) loaded into PVP/CMC hydrogel film wound dressing to disrupt and inhibit the biofilms present on the wound surface. Results: The results obtained showed that the developed hydrogel films containing AC at different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) provided a balanced moist environment to the wound surface with adequate swelling properties. Characterisation of the AC films also showed satisfactory mechanical properties indicating the films were durable and flexible, thus suitable for wound application. Antibiofilm study was conducted via XTT assay by treating biofilms of two common bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the AC hydrogel films. Findings showed AC exerted antibiofilm activity by inhibiting more than 50% of biofilm growth on P. aeruginosa biofilm, with AC 0.5% achieving the highest biofilm inhibition (62.41±8.48%). However, there was lack of evidence to support AC hydrogel films in inhibiting biofilm produced by S. aureus because there was no significant difference (p