DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE HYDROGELS FOR WOUND TREATMENT

Abstract

Chronic wounds are a public health problem since the delay in the recovery process increases health care costs. The carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel (CMC) is a dispersed system, semi‑solid, formed by the dispersion of CMC polymer in an aqueous vehicle, and widely used in the treatment of wounds. Once, CMC stimulates autolytic debridement. The work aimed to develop and characterize CMC hydrogels by varying CMC concentrations by 2%, 3.5% or 5% w/v, and the concentrations and type of wetting agents, such as glycerin or propylene glycol to 10%, 15% and 20% w/v. The organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics, pH, occlusivity, spreadability and rheology of the formulations were analyzed. All formulations presented pH of about 7.0. The gels which presented the highest spreadability were with 2% of CMC and 10% of glycerol and propylene glycol. In the rheological analyzes, the highest values of initial viscosity were presented by formulations containing propylene glycol. The viscosity increased with the increase of CMC concentration, as well as shear stress. The formulations containing glycerin showed close values between the storage (G ‘) and loss (G’ ‘) modules. The only formulation that showed yield point was the 5% CMC gel with 20% glycerin. Thus, it was possible to develop and evaluate CMC hydrogels for wounds treatment.