Preparation and evaluation of p(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-Acrylamide)/ gelatin/ ammonium polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane composite as a candidate for full-thickness wound dressing

Abstract

Skin infections and wounds are the major public health concerns in the world. The use of effective wound dressings is essential for post-surgical wound assessment. In this study, novel hydrogel films containing interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) were formed from poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), acrylamide (AM), gelatin, and modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles containing ammonium antibacterial functional groups designed for use as wound dressing. Samples were analyzed via infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle. In addition, several characteristics, such as swelling ratio, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), mechanical and thermal properties, cell viability, and antibacterial activity were examined. The incorporation of POSS-NH₃⁺ enhanced the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, while the simultaneous inclusion of POSS-NH₃⁺ with heparinized nano zinc oxide (HP-nZnO) in the structure significantly improved antibacterial activity. Additionally, SEM microscopy revealed a smooth surface morphology, and the nanoparticle-loaded composite samples showed no toxicity, with cell viability exceeding 90 % in optimized samples tested with fibroblast L929 cells. Furthermore, the hydrogel demonstrated effective antibacterial properties, particularly with HP-nZnO, making them effective for wound protection. In vivo studies confirmed that the p(HEMA-co-AM)/gelatin/POSS/nZnO wound dressing is a promising candidate for treating skin injuries.