Tatiana Stupnikova

Microbial polysaccharides are promising components for wound-care products. This study reports the development of wound-healing antimicrobial hydrogels, based on pullulan from Aureobasidium pullulans, combined with mesenchymal cell-derived conditioned medium. Structural characterization of pullulan was confirmed by FTIR and NMR. Twenty-three formulations containing pullulan, chitosan, gelatin, citric acid, and antimicrobial agents were prepared. Physicochemical screening identified optimal hydrogels: No. 22 (1.2% pullulan, 1.2% chitosan, 0.2% citric acid, 2.4% gelatin, 0.1% conditioned medium, 0.4% glutaraldehyde) and No. 23 (2.4% pullulan, no chitosan, the remaining components identical to those in No. 22). Both exhibited pH values of 5.34 and 5.49, moisture content of 92%, swelling capacities of 175% and 213%, and dynamic viscosity between 58–120 mPa·s. Cytotoxicity testing with human mesenchymal stem cells showed no significant toxicity, with both hydrogels supporting cell adhesion and proliferation. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli for both formulations; only hydrogel No. 23 inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In vitro scratch assays revealed that hydrogel No. 23 significantly promoted fibroblast migration, achieving 30.25% scratch closure after 24 h. The developed formulations combine favorable physicochemical properties with antimicrobial efficacy and regenerative potential, supporting further evaluation as advanced wound-healing and anti-burn dressings.

This review examines innovative approaches to the treatment of burn injuries through the use of microbial polysaccharides, highlighting their unique properties such as wound infection prevention, moisture retention, and acceleration of tissue regeneration. The development of novel, natural-based pharmaceutical formulations in a patient-friendly dosage form is necessitated by the complexity and high cost of burn treatment, which, in severe cases, may result in fatal outcomes. An analysis of the pharmaceutical market in Kazakhstan reveals a shortage of multifunctional anti-burn drugs and a limited utilization of natural-origin active compounds (17.6% natural components, 82.4% synthetic components). Hydrogels, as a dosage form, offer notable advantages due to their unique physicochemical properties. They maintain a moist wound environment, regulate the release of active substances, ensure direct contact with the injured area, and act as a protective barrier against infection. Microbial polysaccharides, owing to their ability to form three-dimensional network structures, are particularly promising as a foundational material for hydrogels. A detailed examination of the composition and properties of hydrogels based on microbial polysaccharides underscores the potential of biopolymeric compounds in the development of accessible and effective wound-healing formulations. ...