Fabrication and characterization of an antibacterial chitosan-coated allantoin-loaded NaCMC/SA skin scaffold for wound healing applications.

The field of tissue engineering has recently emerged as one of the most promising approaches to address the limitations of conventional tissue replacements for severe injuries. This study introduces a chitosan-coated porous skin scaffold based on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and sodium alginate (SA) hydrogels, incorporating allantoin (AL) as an antibacterial agent. The NaCMC/SA hydrogel was cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (ECH) and freeze-dried to obtain a three-dimensional porous structure. The coated and non-coated scaffolds underwent comprehensive evaluation and characterization through various in-vitro analyses, including SEM imaging, swelling, degradation, and mechanical assessments. Furthermore, the scaffolds were studied regarding their allantoin (AL) release profiles, antibacterial properties, cell viability, and cell adhesion. The in-vitro analyses revealed that adding a chitosan (CS) coating and allantoin (AL) to the NaCMC/SA hydrogel significantly improved the scaffolds' antibacterial properties and cell viability. It was observed that the NaCMC:SA ratio and ECH concentration influenced the swelling capacity, biodegradation, drug release profile, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. Samples with higher NaCMC content exhibited enhanced swelling capacity, more controlled allantoin (AL) release, and improved mechanical strength. Furthermore, the in-vivo results demonstrated that the proposed skin scaffold exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and supported cell viability during wound healing in Wistar rats, highlighting its potential for clinical applications.