Blood Coagulation Activities of Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composites

Abstract

Alginate-based materials have gained significant attention in the medical industry due to their biochemical properties. In this article, we aimed to synthesize Cotton-Alginate-Copper Composite Materials (COT-Alg^(-)Cu⁽²⁺⁾). The main purpose of this study was to assess the biochemical properties of new composites in the area of blood plasma coagulation processes, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT). This study also involved in vitro antimicrobial activity evaluation of materials against representative colonies of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal susceptibility tests. The materials were prepared by immersing cotton fibers in an aqueous solution of sodium alginate, followed by ionic cross-linking of alginate chains within the fibers with Cu(II) ions to yield antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the obtained cotton-alginate-copper composites were promising materials to be used in biomedical applications, e.g., wound dressing.

Keywords: activated partial thromboplastin time; alginic acid; antifungal activity; antimicrobial activity; blood coagulation; composite; copper; cotton-based materials; polymer functionalization; prothrombin time; thrombin time.

Figure 1

Structure of GGMMM fragment of alginic acid (M—β-D-Mannuronate and G—α-L-guluronate).

Figure 2

The schematic diagram of the procedures for surface modification of cotton material using alginate.

Figure 3

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of: alginic acid sodium salt (ALG); cotton fabric (COT); cotton–alginate composite (COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%)); cotton–alginate–copper composite (COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15)).

Figure 4

Optical microscopy images (magnifications: ×500, ×2500) and morphological visualization of surface structure of samples before and after modification processes.

Figure 5

Isotherms of nitrogen adsorption/desorption at 77 K in the various types of materials studied in this work: (a) COT; (b) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%); (c) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.16); (d) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28). Lines are results of approximation.

Figure 6

Tests of antimicrobial activity of alginate composites against E. coli; inhibition zones of bacterial growth in Petri dishes: (a) COT; (b) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%); (c) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15); (d) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28).

Figure 7

Tests of antimicrobial activity of alginate composites against S. aureus; inhibition zones of bacterial growth in Petri dishes: (a) COT; (b) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%); (c) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15); (d) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28).

Figure 8

Tests of antimicrobial activity of alginate composites against Ch. globosum; inhibition zones of bacterial growth in Petri dishes: (a) COT; (b) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%); (c) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15); (d) COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28).

Figure 9

Tests of antimicrobial activity of COT-Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.30) against P. aeruginosa (a) and S. aureus (b)—inhibition zones of bacterial growth in Petri dishes according to the EN-ISO 20645:2006 standard.

Figure 10

Effect of studied alginate composites on aPTT: COT; COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%)1; COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(9.7%); COT-Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.16); COT-Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.30); COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15); COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28); and C—control sample: plasma not exposed to composites. Results are presented as mean (×), median (horizontal line), range (bars), and interquartile range (box).

Figure 11

Effect of studied alginate composites on PT: COT; COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(1%); COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Na⁽⁺⁾(9.7%); COT-Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.16); COT-Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.30); COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.15); COT-ALG⁽⁻⁾Cu⁽²⁺⁾(0.28); and C—control sample: plasma not exposed to composites. Results are presented as mean (×), median (horizontal line), range (bars), and interquartile range (box).