Design and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Hydrogel Nanocomposites for Antibacterial Wound Dressing Applications

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17527167

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are considered as potential antimicrobial agents due to its effectiveness in the treatment of a wide range of bacteria, biocompatibility, and chemical stability. Hydrogels, on the contrary, are three-dimensional polymer networks that can keep the wound hydrated and at the same time, offer mechanical support and regulated drug delivery. Introduction of ZnO nanoparticles in hydrogel matrix is a novel approach to the development of multifunctional wound dressing which can stimulate healing and prevent microbial infection at the same time. This empirical study aimed to design, define, and test ZnO based hydrogel nanocomposites to be used as antibacterial wound dressing agents. In this work, the role of ZnO nanoparticles was synthesized through a sol-gel process and then introduced into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chitosan hydrogel matrix by in-situ crosslinking. The determination of successful nanoparticle incorporation and physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles was done using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and swelling. The efficacy of the antibacterial was checked by disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

The findings showed a homogenous distribution of ZnO nanoparticles across all hydrogel network with an average of 40 to 60nm of the particle diameter. FTIR and XRD analyses were used to establish a successful crosslinking and ZnO incorporation, and SEM images demonstrated a porous morphology that allowed the retention of moisture and oxygen exchange. Optimal loading of ZnO (2% wt) gave a swelling ratio of 230 percent, and TGA showed an increase in thermal stability of the hydrogels after its modification relative to the unmmodified hydrogels. This was confirmed by the presence of an inhibition zone of 18.7mm with S. aureus and 15.2mm with E. coli when the assays were conducted to determine the presence of potent antibacterial activity. This study comes up with the ultimate finding that ZnO hydrogel nanocomposites produce a synergistic blend of antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength, which makes them potential applications in wound dressing in the future.