Metal incorporated PVA and Chitosan based Antimicrobial Hydrogels for Wound Care application

Abstract

Human skin serves as a perfect natural protective barrier in the body’s protection system, and chronic, non-healing skin wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, always have serious consequences, including significant healthcare costs and even amputation of the patient [1]. There has been an urgent demand for improved wound dressing that enhances wound healing in refractory wounds for many years [2]. Wound healing is a series of overlapping steps that must occur for effective cutaneous repair. Wound dressings are now widely used as a major treatment technique in clinical wound care via films and hydrogels, providing a damp environment to aid in the curing process [3]. Wound healing is a dynamic and organised system that can be aided by desirable hydrogel wound dressing films [2]. The hydrogel films have the ability to absorb excess exudate during the healing process, provide a moist environment for cell growth, and protect wounds from pathogen attack [4]. Hydrogel-based wound dressings are one of the most promising materials in wound care, meeting important dressing requirements such as keeping the wound moist while absorbing extensive exudate, adhesion-free coverage of sensitive underlying tissue, pian reduction through cooling, and the ability to actively intervene in the wound healing process [5]. Although several dressings based on hydrogel are currently available in the market, due to the increasing of serious, acute and chronic injuries suffered by ageing society are essential to be addressed with innovative treatments alternatives. The clinical deployment of many revolutionary techniques is hindered by the high cost, safety difficulties relating to medicinal products and allogenic/xenogenic materials and hydrogel challenges, including lack of mechanical stability [6]. Also, antibacterial hydrogel has piqued the interest of researchers in soft tissue repair, particularly in the prevention of infections associated with impaired wound healing. Developing an inherent antibacterial hydrogel dressing with antifouling ability without causing secondary damage to repaired tissues, on the other hand, has proven to be both promising and difficult [7]. The goal of this study was to develop a novel hydrogel composite with antimicrobial properties by combining unique materials such as Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), Chitosan, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and various Metal ions (Ag, Au, Zn and, Cu). Scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction is used to investigate the interactions between PVA, PEG, Chitosan, and different Metal ions. The Chitosan and PVA reinforced the Metal ions, while PEG had a strong plasticizing effect. Microbiological testing revealed that the film has antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria such as gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa 01-gfp, Acinetobacter baumanni ATCC19606), Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213), drug-resistant bacteria (MRSA ATCC 43300), and yeast (Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida Glabrata 7023-534469). The results indicate that the hydrogel films may be a promising material for wound dressing application.