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Published on: January 14, 2020
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Novel chitosan/guar gum/PVA hydrogel: Preparation, characterization and antimicrobial activity evaluation
Dure N Iqbal1, Sadia Shafiq1, Shahzad M Khan2
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore 53700, Pakistan.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 20, 2020
Summary
This study developed chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/guar gum blends for biomedical uses. The materials showed excellent swelling and antimicrobial properties, indicating potential for medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Chitosan (CS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and guar gum (GG) are biocompatible polymers with potential in biomedical applications.
- Developing novel polymer blends with enhanced properties is crucial for advancing medical device and drug delivery technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/guar gum (CS/PVA/GG) ternary blends.
- To investigate the effects of varying blend ratios and formaldehyde cross-linking on blend properties.
- To evaluate the swelling behavior and antimicrobial activity of the prepared blends for potential biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Polymer blends were prepared using the casting solution method with varying ratios of CS and GG, keeping PVA constant.
- Formaldehyde was used as a crosslinking agent to modify blend characteristics.
- Characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), swelling ratio measurements, and antimicrobial activity tests.
Main Results:
- SEM analysis revealed that blend ratios and cross-linking significantly influenced the surface morphology.
- XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of the blends, while FTIR indicated strong intermolecular bonding between the polymers.
- Cross-linking affected hydrophilicity, with the S4 blend exhibiting excellent swelling. Promising antimicrobial activity was observed against P. multocida, S. aureus, E. coli, and B. subtilis.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized CS/PVA/GG ternary blends demonstrate tunable properties through controlled composition and cross-linking.
- The excellent swelling and significant antimicrobial activity suggest these blends are highly suitable for various biomedical applications.
- Further research into these versatile polymer blends could lead to innovative solutions in the medical field.
