Author Pereira GG, Guterres SS, Balducci AG, Colombo P, Sonvico F
Burns are serious traumas related to skin damage, causing extreme pain and possibly death, Natural drugs such as Aloe vera and vitamin E have been demonstrated to be beneficial in formulations for wound healing. The aim of this work is to develop and evaluate polymeric films containing Aloe vera and vitamin E to treat wounds caused by burns. Polymeric films containing different quantities of sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were characterized for their mechanical properties and drug release, bioadhesive films containing vitamin E acetate and Aloe vera could be an innovative therapeutic system for the treatment of burns, in addition to pain and distress, a large burned area will leave the patient with visible physical scars and invisible psychological sequelae, concerning skin damage, the treatment of burns is complex and painful and requires the use of several drugs administered separately or combined, The dressings are a form of treatment of skin wounds aimed at favoring and supporting the healing process, Potential vectors for the controlled release of substances for the treatment of skin damage occurring in wounds and burns are polymeric films. Thin films have been extensively used around the world for tissue repair and closure of wounds, Polymeric film offers advantages over other pharmaceutical forms, such as liquid or semisolid drug delivery products, as it provides a large surface area of application, adhesion to the damaged tissue, and absorption of exudates, the use of natural polymers is supported by their many desirable properties, such as biocompatibility, low irritancy, and lack of toxicity , as in the case of polysaccharides. In addition, wound dressings are in some cases able to prevent loss of body fluid, prevent exudates build up [9], protect the wounds from external contamination, provide sufficient bactericidal effects to inhibit infection , and prepare an optimum wound bed for autographing, To reduce pain and accelerate the healing process, many natural substances have been traditionally used and more recently have been scientifically studied as Aloe vera has been used in a host of curative purposes including treatment of skin disorders and healing of wounds, potent moisturizing agent, it helps in the healing process of skin lesions and alleviates pain, develop and characterize a polymeric film containing Aloe vera and vitamin E acetate with the aim of providing an innovative system for burn wound treatment. The two polysaccharides selected to produce the film were hyaluronic acid and sodium alginate, Bioadhesive polymeric films loaded with vitamin E acetate and Aloe vera were produced and tested on the intact skin of healthy volunteers. The films showed mechanical resistance and flexibility suitable for application in burn wounds. The release profile obtained from the film showed a biphasic controlled release of vitamin E acetate for more than 12 hours. The tape stripping on intact skin showed that the polymeric film formulation facilitates a deeper accumulation of the vitamin E acetate in the stratum corneum when compared to a traditional semisolid formulation The polymer film formulation containing hyaluronate and alginate appears to be a promising approach for the application of substances able to reduce damage and facilitate the healing process, Aloe vera extracts and the antioxidant vitamin E acetate.
