PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF GLUTARALDEHYDE-CROSSLINKED FISH GELATIN/CHITOSAN BIOFILMS FOR WOUND DRESSING APPLICATIONS

Noor Athirah Aida Noor Rizan; Maizlinda Izwana Idris; Mohamad Ali  Selimin

Noor Athirah Aida Noor Rizan Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia.
Maizlinda Izwana Idris Centre of Bioactive Materials (BioMa) centre of Research, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University Tun Hussien Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia.
Mohamad Ali Selimin Department of Production and Operations Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, 86400 Parit Raja, Johor, Malaysia.

Keywords: Fish gelatin, chitosan, wound healing, wound dressing

Abstract

This work focuses on the fabrication of wound healing materials from natural fish gelatin and a bio-based polymer chitosan. The main aim was to develop a biocompatible film with excellent physicochemical properties as protective layers for effective wound healing treatments. In this work, fish gelatin was selected for its low immunogenicity and film-forming ability, while chitosan enabled to improve surface wettability and biocompatibility. The fish gelatin/chitosan biofilms were prepared using the solution casting method with different chitosan and black tilapia fish skin gelatin ratios (FC-100:0, FC-95:5, and FC-80:20) and subsequently crosslinked with 0.6 mL glutaraldehyde (0.25 % v/v working concentration) to enhancing the structural stability without inducing brittleness. All prepared samples were analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurement via goniometer. FTIR analysis, it was indicated strong molecular interactions between gelatin and chitosan through O–H and N–H stretching bands. Surface roughness analysis by AFM showed that FC-95:5 produced the most uniform surface morphology (Ra = 2.479 nm, Rq = 3.530 nm), while FC-80:20 exhibited the highest surface roughness (Ra = 11.943 nm, Rq = 16.928 nm). In addition, contact angle measurements confirmed hydrophilic surface wettability across all formulations, with FC-80:20 recording the lowest average contact angle of 65.9 °, indicating the greatest water affinity among the samples. In conclusion, the fish gelatin/chitosan biofilms exhibited the most promising physicochemical and surface characteristicsas a natural and sustainable foundation for potential wound dressing applications.