Abstract
We report the synthesis of sodium alginate-polyvinyl alcohol-g-acrylamide (NaAlg-PVA-g-AAm) nanocomposite hydrogels modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antibacterial agent. In this work, we used NaAlg isolated directly from brown algae and studied the effects of the NaAlg weight ratio and silver-ion concentration on the network matrix in the hydrogels via in situ polymerization. Successfully synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The best results were achieved with an average AgNPs size of approximately 20 nm allowing the AgNPs to be absorbed in the nanocomposite hydrogel matrix. Nanocomposite hydrogels displayed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of silver nitrate (AgNO3) for E. coli and S. aureus were 46.251 and 75.220 ppm, respectively. Conversely, the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of AgNO3 for these bacteria were 185.004 and 300.880 ppm, respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio of the AgNO3 modified nanocomposite hydrogels was four for both bacteria. The results illustrated that the nanocomposite hydrogels had good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and can be suitable for applications in wound treatments.
Highlights
Many recent studies have shown the benefits of using hydrogels for wound care, as they can maintain a moist environment around the wound site and improve the healing process by protecting damaged skin from dehydration (GhavamiNejad et al, 2016)
Authors report the synthesis of sodium alginate-polyvinyl alcohol-g-acrylamide (NaAlg-Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-g-acrylamide monomer (AAm)) nanocomposite hydrogels modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as an antibacterial agent
Characterization using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) showed that AgNPs were absorbed inside the hydrogel matrix
Summary
Many recent studies have shown the benefits of using hydrogels for wound care, as they can maintain a moist environment around the wound site and improve the healing process by protecting damaged skin from dehydration (GhavamiNejad et al, 2016). Ideal wound treatment systems are based on the principle of moist wound healing, eliminating the excess fluid in the wound such that the balance of moisture can be maintained. This can be achieved by using hydrogels (Jayakumar et al, 2011). A hydrogel can be used as a controlled release system by functioning as a matrix for AgNP nanoreactors, which would allow for controlled release of AgNPs or Ag+ ions, limiting the potential risks of excess release of nanoparticles (Basu et al, 2017). Antibacterial activity is an important characteristic of wound treatment materials because the fluid in the wound is a good medium for bacterial growth. Using the hydrogel matrix as a nanoreactor can lead to a more controlled release of AgNPs or Ag+ ions (Veiga et al, 2013)
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