Abstract
Background: Postoperative wound sealing and localized drug delivery are critical needs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) management. Natural polysaccharide-based films offer a biocompatible platform for addressing these challenges. Methods: A composite film was prepared by Schiff base crosslinking of chitosan and oxidized pullulan. The film was characterized by FTIR, and its adhesion, drug release, cytocompatibility, and effects on cell migration were evaluated using in vitro assays. Results: The composite film exhibited a distinct C=N peak in FTIR spectra and significantly enhanced wet adhesion (55 kPa) compared to individual components. Cisplatin-loaded films showed sustained release over 72 h and reduced the viability of CNE-2 cells to 28%. The drug-free film was non-cytotoxic. Extracts from the composite film promoted nasopharyngeal epithelial cell migration, as shown by RTCA assay. Conclusion: This study explored the in vitro characteristics of a chitosan/oxidized pullulan film and evaluated its basic biological performance at the cellular level capable of localized drug release and supporting cell-level healing responses. Further validation in more complex models is warranted.
Keywords: Chitosan; oxidized pullulan; composite film; cisplatin delivery; epithelial migration