Extraction Water-Swellable Fraction of Gum Tragacanth for Innovation in Burn Wound Dressing



Nayeb Morad F¹ ; Rashid A¹ ; Khajavi R² ; Karim Rahimi M³ ; Bahador A⁴ Show Affiliations
Source: Bulgarian Chemical Communications Published:2018

Abstract

Gum Tragacanth (GT) obtained from Astragalus gossypinus is one of the most widely used natural gums which has found applications in many areas because of its attractive features such as biodegradability, nontoxic nature, natural availability, moisture absorption and creating a network of hydrocolloid. It also has maintenance and delivery of drugs, higher resistance to microbial attacks and long shelf-life properties. Gum Tragacanth consists two major fractions: a water-soluble part which contain tragacanthic Acid and small amount of an arabinogalactan and water insoluble part,contain bassorin which insoluble in water, has the capacity to swell and form a gel. In present study, the separation of tragacanthin and bassorin suggests that the two polysaccharides are in a physical mixture and not chemically bonded. Bassorin which represents 60–70% of the total gum with a molar mass of approximately 105 Da, though insoluble in water. Another small fraction,termed tragacanthin is soluble in water with a molar mass of approximately 104 Da to give a colloidal, hydrosol solution. Bassorin, a pectic component, has a chain of (1-4)-linked α-D-galacturonic acid units some of which are substituted at O-3 with β-D-xylopyranosyl units and some of these being terminated with D-Gal or L-Fuc .The solution of bassorin viscosity were very high and could not be electrospun. To improve the spin ability of bassorin, Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was blended with this polysaccharide. Preparation nanofibers of 50 wt% bassorin (extracted from gum tragacanth) has been mixed by 50 wt% polyethylene oxide and 0.01 wt% ofloxacin (Ba/PEO/Ofx) for electrospinning. Nanofibers coated on cotton gauze. The properties of Bassorin and produced nanofibers were examined via XRD, FTIR and SEM microscopy. The Antibacterial of nanofibers activity against Staphylococcus aureus as Gram-positive bacteria and Escherichia coli as a Gram-negative bacteria also were investigated. Nanofibers are capable of absorbing wound’s exocrine liquid easily due to their high specific area of nanofibers which 4 to 5% more than cotton gauzes without nanofibers. When it is turned to gel by moisture sorption, the release of loaded ofloxacin would be enhanced. The Antibacterial assay showed the cotton gauze coated with Ba/PEO/Ofx nanofibers could inhibit about 90% growth both bacterial strain. © 2018 Bulgaran Academy of Sciences, Union of Chemists in Bulgaria.