Fabrication and characterization of Lawsone-loaded κ-carrageenan-based scaffolds with antibacterial properties

Abstract

Carrageenan is currently being explored for synthesizing scaffolds due to its excellent biological properties. This research focuses on the fabrication and characterization of κ-carrageenan/chitosan/gelatin and κ-carrageenan/chitosan scaffolds, examining both variants with and without Lawsone. Also, their antibacterial effectiveness against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were tested. The scaffolds were prepared with 1 % and 1.5 % κ-carrageenan and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and water contact angle. The scaffolds were loaded with Lawsone, and their antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus were investigated using the disk diffusion method. The result was that all scaffolds had a sponge-like structure, a desirable porosity of 50–80 %, and a pore size of 30–260 μm. The degradation rate over 35 days was less than 30 %, which was satisfactory, and the scaffolds containing 1.5 % κ-carrageenan showed better hydrophilicity than others. The antibacterial results showed the high inhibitory potential of the scaffolds loaded with Lawsone simultaneously during the synthesis process against both bacteria. The scaffold with 1 % κ-carrageenan, chitosan, and gelatin (KCG1%) had the highest antibacterial effect on S. aureus with a normalized width of halo 1.9. Overall, the results underline the promising potential of these polymeric scaffolds for antibacterial applications. The materials used in this scaffold are possibly applicable in tissue engineering. Given their suitable physicochemical and antibacterial characteristics, these scaffolds may serve as a tool for restoring infected tissues, which necessitates further research.