Gelatin-PVA-AgNPs Triad Composite as Wound Healing Hydrogel with Wounded Skin Surface Protective Efficiency

Abstract The development of non-toxic, biocompatible and antibacterial hydrogels are ideal biomaterials as wound dressing material for promoting wound healing. Thus, we report the development of a low-cost biomacromolecule-based triad nanocomposite hydrogel. Gelatin, a collagen hydrolysate based biomacromolecule, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) form the hydrogels for wound dressing application. Gelatin enhances the efficiency of the hydrogel blended with synthetic macromolecule PVA. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Musa balbisiana (Bhimkol) peels aqueous extract were incorporated into the PVA-Gelatin hydrogel blend. The developed PVA-gelatin-AgNPs triad nanocomposite hydrogel films were characterized and studied by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. The incorporation of AgNPs into the gelatin-PVA blend offers better stability, improved water vapour transmission rate (WVTR), surface contact angle, swelling ratio and mechanical properties compared to the native PVA-gelatin blend. The PVA-gelatin-AgNPs triad bionanocomposite hydrogel films showed potent antibacterial efficiency against the commonly present microbes in wounds i.e., E.coli and S. aureus . The hydrogel films showed no toxicity against the BJ normal human foreskin fibroblasts cells. Our composite hydrogel was found to accelerate wound healing, efficiently protect the wounded skin surface against exudate accumulation/dehydration, and prevent bacterial growth and infection. Thus, these gelatin-PVA-AgNPs triad nanocomposite hydrogels acts as ideal for wound dressing applications.