Antimicrobial dual ionic-covalent k-carrageenan/carboxymethyl chitosan membranes with robust moisture retention property

To develop an antimicrobial membrane for wound healing, the blended k-carrageenan (KC)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCH) membranes were fabricated through a freeze-drying process together with a dual-ion (Cu 2+ and K + or Cu 2+ and Ca 2+ ) crosslinking approach. The dual-ion crosslinking by Cu 2+ and K + could not only make the membranes compact but could also improve the uptake capacity and mechanical properties of the fabricated membranes. The maximum tensile stress of membranes reached up to 43 MPa and the highest swelling ratio was around 5500%, exhibiting robust moisture retention property. The CMCH and Cu 2+ in blended membranes provided a good antimicrobial property against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the fabricated membranes showed good cytocompatibility. These results indicated the fabricated KC/CMCH membranes with dual-ion by Cu 2+ and K + have favorable properties and have a great potential for application in wound healing.