Quaternary Ammonium Salt-Modified Isabgol (Psyllium) Scaffold as an Antibacterial Dressing for Improved Wound Healing

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. Healing of chronic wounds requires an ingenious biomaterial that is biocompatible and anti-infective to achieve effective wound management. In this study, a wound dressing with inherent antibacterial and biocompatible properties was developed to assist the healing process. Natural polysaccharide Isabgol was chemically modified with Epoxy propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride to render antibacterial activity to the material. This is the first report of such chemical modification of this polymer for biomedical applications. The modified material was freeze-dried to obtain scaffolds. 13C NMR and FTIR analysis confirmed the modification of the Isabgol polymer chains with EPTMAC. The scaffold exhibits an organized porous structure that allows the exchange of gases and nutrients through the matrix, as confirmed by SEM analysis. The material possesses excellent swelling properties up to 17 times its initial weight that allows it to absorb wound exudates and maintain a moist environment at the wound site. The scaffold is biodegradable, and thermally and mechanically stable. The material is anti-infective and can prevent infections at the wound site, which is one of the major causes of delayed wound healing. The developed scaffolds have been proven to be biocompatible and suitable for use in blood contact applications. Finally, since Isabgol is a low-cost raw material, the quaternary ammonium-modified Isabgol scaffold can be an affordable wound dressing material.