Silver Nanoparticles-Composing Alginate/Gelatine Hydrogel Improves Wound Healing In Vivo

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Wound Healing Research

Background:

• Polymer hydrogels are explored for wound dressings and tissue regeneration.
• Natural polymers like sodium alginate and gelatin offer biocompatibility.
• Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess potent antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel hydrogel composite using sodium alginate, gelatin, and AgNPs.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy and wound healing potential of the developed hydrogel.
• To assess the safety and in vivo performance of the AgNP-loaded hydrogel.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of hydrogels with varying sodium alginate/gelatin ratios and AgNP precursor concentrations.
• Characterization of AgNPs using UV-Vis spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
• Analysis of polymer interactions via Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.
• Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) against bacteria.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assessment using fibroblast cells.
• In vivo wound healing studies in rats.

Main Results:

• AgNPs exhibited a spheroidal form, confirmed by TEM, with characteristic UV-Vis peaks.
• FT-IR analysis indicated strong intermolecular interactions between polymers.
• The hydrogel displayed significant bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
• AgNPs were non-cytotoxic to fibroblast cells.
• In vivo studies showed reduced wound size and accelerated healing with AgNP-hydrogels.

Conclusions:

• The developed sodium alginate-gelatin hydrogel loaded with AgNPs is a promising candidate for wound healing applications.
• The composite material exhibits effective antimicrobial properties and enhances the natural healing process.
• Further clinical investigations are warranted to explore its therapeutic potential.