Design of Experiments Approach for Optimizing a Chitosan-Polyphosphate-Copper Based Material for Trauma Wound Treatment

Abstract

The primary focus when treating traumatic wounds is to control bleeding. Once hemostasis is achieved, the priority shifts to preventing infection. Wound dressings, predominantly gauze, are used for initial on-site treatment but typically lack additional hemostatic or antibacterial effects. This thesis aims to create a material with enhanced hemostatic and antibacterial effects for trauma wound dressing through polyelectrolyte complexation of chitosan (CS), polyphosphate (PP) and copper followed by lyophilization. A consistent production protocol for synthesizing the CS-PP-Cu mesh-like material was developed. A design of experiments (DoE) approach with predictive modelling was subsequently undertaken to optimize key process variables (factors) according to relevant outcome measures (responses) crucial to wound dressing performance. Along with validating the DoE models, these optimized material formulations were used to verify the potential effectiveness of the CS-PP-Cu material as a trauma wound dressing relative to commercial wound dressing (Celox™) and CS-only mesh.