International journal of nanomedicine
Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications of Chitosan-Grafted-Poly(Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide)/ZnO Nanocomposite Hydrogel: Loading Studies, Antimicrobial Activity, Wound Healing, and Anticancer Potential
By Alzaidy AH, Ganduh SH, Hussien MS and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Effective wound dressings must combine antimicrobial action with support of tissue repair. Chitosan hydrogels are biocompatible but weakly antimicrobial, whereas ZnO nanoparticles are potent antimicrobials that need a carrier matrix. Most studies address either loading chemistry or biological performance, rarely both. Here, the ZnO-loading chemistry of a CH-g-P(AA-co-Am)/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel is linked to its biological behaviour.
Methods
The hydrogel was synthesised by free-radical graft copolymerisation (potassium persulfate initiator, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker), loaded with ZnO nanoparticles and characterised by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, AFM, EDX and TGA. ZnO loading was studied in batch experiments. Antimicrobial activity (S. aureus, E. coli, A. niger), wound healing (full-thickness excisional wounds in BALB/c mice; 24 animals in four groups of six) and cytotoxicity (A172 glioblastoma cells and the WRL68 reference line, MTT assay) were assessed.