Crosslinked Chitosan Films Supplemented with Randia sp. Fruit Extract

This work proposes the development of a polymer film made up of affordable components for its use as a healthcare material. Chitosan, itaconic acid, and <i>Randia capitata</i> fruit extract (Mexican variation) are the unique ingredients of this biomaterial prospect. Chitosan (from crustacean chitin) is crosslinked with itaconic acid, and in situ added <i>R. capitata</i> fruit extract in a one-pot reaction carried out in water as the sole solvent. Structurally, the film formed is an ionically crosslinked composite characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (DSC and TGA); cell viability was also performed in vitro using fibroblasts BALB/3T3. Dry and swollen films were analyzed to determine affinity and stability in water. This chitosan-based hydrogel is designed as a wound dressing due to the combined properties of the chitosan with <i>R. capitata</i> fruit extract, which has potential as bioactive material due to its properties in epithelial regeneration.