Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Reinforcement of Cellulose and Silica Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Application

摘要

Hydrogels are smart materials that have the capability to absorb water by over five hundred times their own weight and showed various applications in biomedical field, including drug delivery systems, tissue engineering and wound healing. In this study, the fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels reinforced with cellulose and silica nanoparticles was investigated for possible use in wound healing applications. Synthesis was done through chemical cross-linking of polyvinyl alcohol and sodium borate. Results showed that mechanical properties and thermal stability of the reinforced hydrogels were improved compared to the neat hydrogel. The nanosilica-reinforced hydrogels showed antimicrobial activity and improved degree of swelling compared to the neat PVA hydrogels. Sparse growth was observed in the antimicrobial assay with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Cellulose-reinforced hydrogels showed minimal flexibility characteristic compared to the nanosilica-reinforced hydrogel samples. Moreover, it showed no antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aerigunosa.