Novel Antibacterial Wound Healing Hydrogels Based On HEC/SA/HA Using Green Chemistry Approach

(HEC/SA/HA/AgNP hydrogels) were successfully prepared using Hyaluronic acid (HA), Sodium alginate (SA), Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC, and Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). HEC/SA/HA/AgNP hydrogels were cross-linked via Ca2+ ions. The structural, chemical and physical properties of the hydrogel have been studied, which include: swelling ratio, antibacterial and antifungal activity, and also UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, EDX after making sponges via the freeze-drying technique. The characteristic peak of UV-Vis spectra revealed the formation of AgNPs in the compound at 411 nm. The FTIR curves showed new peaks that confirmed the oxidation of HEC, and showed the chemical interaction of the three polymers with AgNPs and Ca2+. The SEM images showed monodispersed AgNPs with a size ranging (from 8.2 to 32 nm ). The results from these studies showed that the hydrogel has an excellent performance in swelling ratio. Furthermore, the hydrogel activity against bacteria and fungi was also measured for 72 h, and the results showed that these hydrogels were more effective against the microbes. These results suggested that the crosslinked hydrogel (HEC/HA/SA) with AgNPs might be an excellent dressing for wounds.