l-Arginine Grafted Poly(Glycerol Sebacate) Materials: An Antimicrobial Material for Wound Dressing

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of a novel wound dressing material. l-arginine grafted poly(glycerol sebacate) materials (PGS-g-Arg) are developed by chemical conjugation of l-arginine on poly(glycerol sebacate) chains and the mechanical property, water vapor transmission rate, antimicrobial functions and biocompatibility are investigated. At various l-arginine grafting ratio, the mechanical properties are tunable. It was found that between 7–13% l-arginine grafting ratios, the tensile strengths of PGS-g-Arg were similar to that of natural skin. These materials are shown with a low water vapor transmission rate, 6.1 to 10.3 g/m2/h, which may form a barrier and assist in the closure of wounds. Inhibition in the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was observed on PGS-g-Arg, and a series of experiments were conducted to confirm its biocompatibility. In summary, l -arginine grafted poly(glycerol sebacate) may offer a novel option for wound dressing.