Stimuli responsive biopolymer (chitosan) based blend hydrogels for wound healing application

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Wound Healing Technology

Background:

• Chitosan (CS) and poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) are biocompatible polymers with potential in biomedical applications.
• Developing stimuli-responsive hydrogels is crucial for advanced wound healing and drug delivery systems.
• Poly acrylic acid (PAA) can be used to form hydrogel networks with other polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on chitosan (CS) and poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) using neutralized poly acrylic acid (PAA).
• To evaluate the potential of these hydrogels for wound healing applications, focusing on their swelling behavior, thermal stability, and antimicrobial properties.
• To assess the drug release profile of silver sulfadiazine from the developed hydrogels for potential use in treating burnt wounds.

Main Methods:

• Hydrogel synthesis involving chitosan, PVP, and neutralized PAA.
• Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for chemical structure confirmation.
• Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) to determine thermal stability.
• Antimicrobial assays against E. coli.
• Swelling studies in various media (water, different pH buffers).
• Spectrophotometric analysis for drug release kinetics of silver sulfadiazine.

Main Results:

• FTIR confirmed successful formation of hydrogels with interactions between CS, PVP, and PAA.
• Hydrogels exhibited enhanced thermal stability compared to individual polymers.
• All synthesized hydrogel samples demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against E. coli.
• Responsive swelling behavior was observed, with swelling decreasing in water as PVP content increased.
• Optimal swelling occurred at neutral pH (pH 7) and pH 8, with minimal swelling in acidic conditions.
• Silver sulfadiazine release reached 91.2% within 1 hour in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), indicating controlled release.

Conclusions:

• The developed CS/PVP/PAA hydrogels are stimuli-responsive and possess desirable properties for wound healing.
• Their thermal stability, antibacterial efficacy, and controlled silver sulfadiazine release highlight their potential in advanced wound care.
• The tunable swelling behavior based on PVP content and pH responsiveness makes these hydrogels versatile for drug delivery applications.