Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Chitosan, a derivative of chitin, has potential biomedical applications. For this study the suitability of chitosan membrane as wound dressing was compared with that of bactigras, a chlorhexidine acetate impregnated tulle gras wound closing material. Chitosan membrane was prepared from shrimp chitosan with a degree of deacetylation of 75 % or 88.5% and thickness of lOom or 30om. The membranes were sterilized by either ethylene oxide or y- radiation. Fresh skin graft donor site was used for dressing wounds that resulted at skin graft donor site after removal of the skin layer of 0.010-0.015 inch thickness using a dermatome. One half of the wound was dressed by chitosan membranes with different physico-chemical properties and other half by bactigras. The healing rate was compared by both clinical observation and histological examination. Digital images were taken at 0 and 10 postoperative days. Itching and pain sensitivity of the wound dressed area was scored for the first three days using a visual analogue scale. After 10 days chitosan dressed area was found to have healed more promptly than that was dressed using bactigras. Moreover, the chitosan membrane showed positive effect on granulation tissue formation. Reepithelialization occurred faster in case of chitosan membrane as compared to bactigras. These data confirm that chitosan membranes could be a potential substitute for wound dressing in the process of wound healing.