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The field of wound healing has seen an increase in research activity in wound care and hydrogel-based dressings have been targeted as a solution for these applications. Hydrogels with silver nanoparticles can present many advantages for this field. However, if the aggregation and sterilization of this product have not been carefully considered, the effectiveness or use could be limited. Therefore, in the current study, a hydrogel-based wound dressing membrane was developed using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG), agar, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Silver ions (Ag+) were dispersed in the polymer matrix and its reduction with formation of a hydrogel and silver nanoparticles was performed using 60Co gamma irradiation to enhance the dressings antimicrobial properties. The resulting hydrogel presented a high degree of swelling and a good size control of silver nanoparticles. The incorporation of AgNPs was confirmed via Raman spectroscopy and the samples presented no signs of toxicity in vitro as assessed using an elution assay with neutral red uptake as the cytotoxic end point. Membranes were tested in vivo using a full thickness defeat model in rabbits. Postmortem histopathological analysis indicated that the use of the hydrogel membranes that incorporated AgNPs had a stimulatory action on wound healing as evidenced by a high intensity of fibroblasts and neovascularization in the tissue, which promoted a faster healing process when compared to the untreated wounds. We demonstrate the possibility of producing a hydrogel with good size control of AgNPs, which can also be directly sterilized within the formation of this material via gamma irradiation. Furthermore, the mechanism of hydrogel healing, in vivo, with silver nanoparticles was found to have a direct correlation of silver nanoparticles with in vitro cell results.

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Hydrogels are widely used for controlled delivery of therapeutic agents. However, hydrogels lack bioactivity to encourage bone formation and mechanical integrity. Moreover, chemically crosslinked hydrogels exhibit cytotoxic effect. To overcome these limitations poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) blends were combined with ceramic materials based on b tricalcium phosphate, wollastonite, and magnesium silicate with different pore size distributions. The final 3D matrix was physically crosslinked using various freeze thawing (F/T) cycles. FTIR and SEM analysis showed that ceramics were dispersed within the polymer matrix and formed hydrogen bonds. Swelling studies in buffer solution pH 7.4 showed an increase in polymer swelling when ceramic was added. Furthermore, rheological testing demonstrated that incorporation of ceramics caused an increase in mechanical properties which varies with different pore size distributions of ceramics grains added. DSC thermograms showed increased T g values for samples containing ceramics. Antimicrobial activity containing ciprofloxacin was tested against a pathogen associated with osteomyelitis and presented positive results with ciprofloxacin.

Scaffolds are models designed to aid the interaction between cells and extracellular bone matrix, providing structural support for newly formed bone tissue. In this work, wollastonite with β‐TCP porous ceramic scaffolds was developed by the polymer sponge replication. Their microstructure, cell viability and bioactivity were tested. in vivo was performed to evaluate the use of a calcium silicate‐based implant in the repair of rabbit tibias. Holes were made in the both proximal and distal tibial metaphysis of each animal and filled with calcium silicate‐based implant, and in the left tibia, no implant were used, serving as control group. Animals underwent euthanasia after 30 and 60 days of study. The animals were submitted to clinical‐radiographic evaluations and their histology was analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscope. The studied calcium silicate implant provided biocompatibility and promoted bone formation, stimulating the process of bone repair in rabbits, features observed by gradual radiopacity shown in the radiographic evaluations.