Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Containing Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as Hydrogel Wound Dressing

In the biomedical field, hydrogels are extensively utilized due to their ability to provide mechanical support and create a moist environment for wounds. In this study, nanocomposite hydrogels containing carboxymethyl chitosan (CsMe), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in different weight ratios (0, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.2%) were prepared for wound healing. The prepared hydrogels were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, the mechanical properties, swelling ratio, MTT assay, antibacterial efficacy, and in vivo wound healing were assessed. MTT assays indicated no toxicity after incorporating ZnO-NPs into the hydrogel, and the maximum antibacterial efficiencies of CsMe/PVA/ZnO-NPs (0.5%) hydrogels against E. coli and S. aureus were 91.85 ± 1.2% and 52.7 ± 0.84%, respectively. In vivo studies demonstrated that the hydrogel containing 0.5% ZnO-NPs significantly accelerated wound healing, with 96 ± 2.41% wound closure after 14 days, compared to 83.5 ± 6.76% for the group treated with commercial ZnO ointment. The results suggest that ZnO-NPs in hydrogels enhance antibacterial activity and promote better wound healing than traditional ZnO ointments, offering a promising material for advanced wound care applications.