Preparation and Characterization of Antibacterial Films with Eggshell-Membrane Biopolymers Incorporated with Chitosan and Plant Extracts

A series of films containing chitosan (CS), eggshell membrane (ESM), soluble eggshell membrane (SEP), and plant extracts from Thymus vulgaris and Origanum valgare were prepared with varying concentrations and compositions. These novel films were characterized extensively with respect to film thickness and uniformity, solution absorption, degradation, microenvironmental pH, and antibacterial properties. All the films were flexible with appropriate mechanical stability. After 48 h of soaking in a lysozyme solution, all the films degraded 64 ± 4%, which would be expected to allow for the release of the plant extracts. The plant extracts on their own showed a pH of approximately 4, with the blended films having microenvironmental pHs from approximately 6.4–7.0, which would be expected to promote wound healing. A CS-ESM-SEP film with 5% of each plant extract inhibited almost all E. coli growth in liquid cultures and had no detriments to fluid absorption. Fluid absorption was approximately 100–150% by weight for all the films. The incorporation of SEP and plant extracts to a CS-ESM film provides a promising and novel method for the incorporation of SEP and antibacterial agents in a film with no detriment to wound fluid absorption or film degradation.