Microencapsulated sodium fusidate to impart antibacterial properties into cotton dressings for traumatic wounds

This research aimed to investigate the use of microencapsulated sodium fusidate to impart antibacterial properties into conventional cotton gauze used to treat traumatic wounds. The microcapsules were prepared with sodium fusidate dissolved in ethanol as the active substance (core) and calcium alginate as the wall material (shell) using an electrospraying method. The microcapsules were then loaded into a 1% solution of chitosan, and conventional sterile cotton gauze fabric was impregnated in this suspension and dried at room temperature. The microcapsules obtained were examined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm the constituents, and by scanning electron microscopy to examine the size and distribution of the microcapsules. The results showed that microcapsules with sodium fusidate as the core material were produced in a size range of 50-200 mu m. The antibacterial properties of these gauze samples were tested for resistance to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The samples showed antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) only, with an average inhibition zone of 31.67 +/- 2.89mm in diameter. The antibacterial effect of the treated gauze samples was tested after washing to investigate the strength of the binding agent, to find out whether the samples maintained antibacterial properties after two hand-rubbed washes. Its absorption capacity, rate of absorbency and air permeability values were 555 +/- 4.51%, 1.25 +/- 0.04 seconds and 408 +/- 2.65cm(3)/cm(2)/seconds, respectively. The research findings have established the possibility of imparting antibacterial properties into sterile cotton gauze using microencapsulation of sodium fusidate.