| Summary: | The biocompatibility and excellent ion exchange capacity make faujasites ideal candidates for tissue engineering applications. A novel pectin/copper exchanged faujasite hybrid membrane was synthesized by solvent casting technique, using calcium chloride as the crosslinking agent. AFM images revealed the egg-box model organization of calcium cross-linked pectin chains used as a matrix. The morphology of composite membranes was characterized by SEM and their elemental composition was determined using EDX. The higher contact angle of P(1%) when compared to that of native pectin figured out an enhanced hydrophobicity of hybrid material. The embedded faujasite particles maintained their crystalline structure as revealed by XRD and their interactions with the polymer matrix was evaluated by FTIR. The composite membrane with 1% (w/w) of copper exchanged faujasite, P(1%), exhibited better thermal stability, excellent antibacterial activity, controlled swelling and degradation. Finally, it displayed cell viability of 89% on NIH3T3 fibroblast cell lines and aided in improving wound healing and re-epithelialisation in Sprague Dawley rats. The obtained data suggested their potential as ideal matrices for efficient treatment of burn wounds. Copyright © 2015 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.
|
|---|