Novel Nanocomposite Hydrogels Based on Crosslinked Microbial Polysaccharide as Potential Bioactive Wound Dressings

Abstract

A multitude of dressings have been developed to promote wound repair, such as membranes, foams, hydrocolloids and hydrogels. In this study, a crosslinked polysaccharide hydrogel was mixed with a bioactive ingredient to synthesize a novel nanocomposite material to be used in wound healing. Variation of the ratio between hydrogel components was followed and its effect was analyzed in regard to swelling, degradation rate and thermo-mechanical behavior. The resulting crosslinked structures were characterized by FTIR and microscopy analyses. The antimicrobial activity of the crosslinked hydrogels loaded with bioactive agent was evaluated using two bacterial strains (Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia Coli). All the results showed that the new synthesized biopolymer nanocomposites have adequate properties to be used as antibacterial wound dressings.

Microbial Polysaccharide-Based Formulation with Silica Nanoparticles; A New Hydrogel Nanocomposite for 3D Printing

“…A key characteristic of many hydrogels utilized as scaffolds for regenerative medicine is their antibacterial activity [62]. All 3D printed scaffolds were tested against two gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (gram-negative bacteria).…”

“…It can be observed from Figure 8 that every sample showed antibacterial activity against the two strains that were put to the test. Due to the samples' citric acid content, which is known to have an antibacterial effect, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were inhibited in a detectable zone [62,63]. According to their chemical makeup, citric It can be observed from Figure 8 that every sample showed antibacterial activity against the two strains that were put to the test.…”

“…The new formulations were prepared according to the composition from Table 3 using an adapted preparation process [62]. Briefly, in order to obtain the new nanocomposite based on salecan, different concentrations of silica nanoparticles were dispersed in citric acid solution using magnetic stirring (600 rpm, 90 min, 22-25 • C using Arex heating magnetic stirrer, Velp Scientifica, Usmate Velate, Italy) and sonication treatment (5 min, 20% amplitude, 20 khz frequency, ice bath, using High Intensity Ultrasonic Processor, CPX 750, CV33, COLE PARMER, Cambridgeshire, UK); salecan was then added in the silica dispersion under mechanical stirring thus obtaining the hydrogel ink.…”