Crosslinked Hydrogel Loaded with Chitosan-supported Iron Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles as Burn Wound Dressing

Introduction: Burns can result in infection, disability, psychosocial and economic issues. Traditional wound dressings adhere, dry up, shed particles and necessitate frequent changes. Advanced wound dressings like hydrogel absorb exudate and maintain moisture. Considering the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles and iron oxide nanoparticles, this study formulated and examined a cross-linked cellulose hydrogel containing chitosan-supported iron oxide (IONPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Methods & Materials: Hydrogel containing ۲% w/v carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose with varying concentrations of citric acid (CA), predried at ۴۰°C and crosslinked at ۸۰°C. Physicochemical properties investigated by Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The swelling ratio of cross-linked hydrogel containing ۵% w/v glycerin was determined in citrate-phosphate buffer. IONPs and AgNPs synthesized by chemical reaction and electrochemical reduction, respectively. Physicochemical properties were investigated by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The antimicrobial effects of nanoparticles were analyzed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test and Checkerboard Assay (on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), separately and in mixtures. Cytotoxicity test was conducted on NIH/۳T۳ cell line. In a ۱۴-day animal burn model study, macroscopic effects of five different formulations were compared to silver sulfadiazine and simple ointment: crosslinked hydrogel without nanoparticles (H), with ۱۲.۵ ppm AgNPs (ANP), with ۱۰۰ ppm IONPs (FNP), with ۶.۲۵ ppm AgNPs and ۵۰ ppm IONPs (LM), and with ۱۲.۵ ppm AgNPs and ۱۰۰ ppm IONPs (HM). In addition, Histopathological examination was conducted. Results: The FTIR, DSC, TGA and SEM data revealed that increasing the amount of CA causes more esterification, thermal stability, crosslinking and coarser platelet-like crystallites. The swelling test showed that a rise in CA decreases the swelling index while increase in the pH raises it. ۲۰% CA crosslinked Hydrogel was selected for further studies due to the results. AgNPs and IONPs size were ۶۰.۷۶±۴.۲ and ۱۲۵.۹±۵ nm, with a zeta potential

کلیدواژه ها:

Burn Wound Dressing ، Hydrogel ، Chitosan ، Iron Oxide Nanoparticles ، Silver Nanoparticles