How Chitin from Crustacean Shells Could Power 3D Printed Wound Care

Chronic wounds are defined by being unable to fully heal naturally, persisting at an inflammatory stage due to imbalances in the wound microenvironment. These wounds, including diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, can linger for months or even years. Wound dressings function to provide a protective barrier over the injured region, facilitating new tissue and vascular structure growth. However, conventional dressings sometimes have insufficient moisture balance, limited bioactivity, poor mechanical strength, and difficulty in sustaining the release of therapeutic agents. That’s why researchers at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy are 3D printing medicated patches to treat persistent sores and ulcers. This mission of this research was to optimize scaffold composition for printability and mechanical performance, evaluate in vitro drug release, and assess antibacterial efficacy.

The wound scaffold developed by the University of Mississippi team offers natural, biodegradable antibacterials over time to encourage healing. This isn’t the first time wound dressings have been 3D printed. For instance, in 2023 researchers from the Queen’s University Belfast published a study in which they 3D printed scaffolds for ulcers. However, the difference is in the production methods and the novel materials used, which you might find surprising.

Graphical abstract of the study. (Image credit: Alshammari et al.)

What Materials Are in the Scaffolds?

The base material of the scaffolds is chitosan (CS), a biopolymer derived from chitin, which is naturally present in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. This biopolymer has attracted attention for wound healing due to its distinct combination of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial characteristics. The researchers combined this biopolymer with Para-Coumaric acid (P-CA), a naturally occurring phenolic compound that is abundant in plants, especially fruits, cereals, tea, and wine. Additionally, they incorporated polycaprolactone (PCL) for mechanical stability, and polyethylene oxide (PEO) for improving hydrophilicity and processability. PCL and PEO reinforced the CS-based scaffolds, to maintain structural integrity during healing.