Aug 2026· Macromolecular Bioscience· Vol 26· 0 citations· 50 references
Medicine
TL;DR
A polyacrylic acid/polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogel fabricated via self‐catalyzed free radical polymerization, with borax serving as the reinforcing phase, achieves synergistic antibacterial and intelligent responsive therapeutic performances, providing a reliable and high‐efficiency candidate for advanced wound care and next‐generation wound dressing applications.
Abstract
Hydrogel‐based dressings are widely used in wound healing. Herein, we report a polyacrylic acid (PAA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite hydrogel fabricated via self‐catalyzed free radical polymerization, with borax serving as the reinforcing phase. Meanwhile, metal‐ligand coordination bonding between tannic acid (TA) and Fe3+ further elevates the crosslinking density of the hydrogel network. Magnetic chitosan microspheres (MCMs) were synthesized by emulsion cross‐linking and loaded with two antibacterial agents, namely tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) and berberine hydrochloride (Bbh). The incorporation of MCMs into the hydrogel matrix resulted in the development of a multifunctional composite hydrogel suitable for wound dressing applications. Results demonstrated that the composite hydrogel containing a specific concentration of 4‰ (w/v) borax and 20 mg/mL MCMs exhibited superior performance, including enhanced mechanical strength, improved responsiveness, sustained drug release, and potent antibacterial efficacy. The core novelty of this work lies in the synergistic integration of borax‐based mechanical reinforcement, MCM‐mediated dual drug loading and sustained release, and the self‐catalyzed polymerization system. This innovative structural and functional collaboration effectively optimizes the mechanical stability of the hydrogel dressing and achieves synergistic antibacterial and intelligent responsive therapeutic performances, providing a reliable and high‐efficiency candidate for advanced wound care and next‐generation wound dressing applications.
Rheological characterization confirmed typical viscoelastic solid behavior, favorable injectability, and excellent self‐healing capability, the latter of which was also supported by macroscopic observations.
Lei Nie, Letian Yan, Yaling Deng et al.· Polymer Engineering & Sc...· 0 citations
This study developed and characterised poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)–chitosan composite hydrogels crosslinked with oxalic acid through thermal crosslinking as antifungal wound dressings loaded with amphotericin B (AMB). Hydrogel films were prepared from aqueous stock solutions with varying chitosan content and subjected to dry thermal treatment to induce crosslinking with oxalic acid. Increasing chitosan content significantly elevated the viscosity of the polymeric mixtures and influenced the swelling percentage and equilibrium water content. Conversely, the gel fraction remained largely unchanged, indicating enhanced water uptake without compromising structural integrity. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed successful network formation and chitosan incorporation. Leachable studies identified PVA and PVP as the primary leachate components. While AMB partitioning showed no statistical differences across formulations, the hydrogels maintained a mildly acidic surface pH. Notably, the AMB-loaded PPChi
20
hydrogel exhibited a significantly larger zone of inhibition against
C. albicans
compared to AMB-free controls. As blank formulations showed no antifungal activity, the efficacy was primarily dependent on the hydrogel’s AMB loading capacity. These findings suggest that PVA–PVP–chitosan hydrogels crosslinked with oxalic acid are promising candidates for topical AMB delivery in managing fungal-infected wounds.
Fitriah Ramadhani Subair, Rifka Nurul Utami, Elfa Januarti et al.· Journal of bioactive and com...· 0 citations
Discrepancies in wound healing and uncontrolled bleeding pose a threat to wound care, which necessitates the development of innovative bioactive wound dressings. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of the polymer nanocomposite films made from silk sericin and poly(vinyl alcohol), incorporating tranexamic acid and varying concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles, using the solution casting method for hemostatic wound-healing applications. The incorporation of copper oxide nanoparticles into the polymer matrix enhanced the mechanical performance of the polymer composite films while maintaining the structural integrity. The different formulations of polymer nanocomposite films exhibited water vapor transmission rates within a range of 793.58 ± 8.54 g/m2 to 907.02 ± 11.81 g/m2. The films also displayed good water absorption values ranging from 101.27 ± 2.03% to 158.88 ± 1.83%, which are favorable for the effective absorption of wound exudates, thereby reducing the chances of infection. The polymer nanocomposite film with the highest concentration of copper oxide nanoparticles exhibits an enzymatic degradation rate of 61.67 ± 0.54% after 14 days and a 97.1 ± 0.1% of cell migration rate, as evidenced from the in vitro wound scratch assay. Overall, the prepared polymer nanocomposite films have a significant potential to be used as next-generation wound dressing materials.
Devipriya Vasudevan, D. Sangeetha· ACS Omega· 0 citations
Polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) blends show promise for sustainable packaging, although their limited thermo‐mechanical strength and absence of antimicrobial functionalities, restrict their wide applications. This study focuses on the development and characterization of PLA/PVAc‐based nanocomposite films, reinforced with 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt% of kaolinite nanoparticles to address these limitations. The nanocomposites were fabricated via the solution casting method, followed by D‐limonene coating to impart antimicrobial functionality. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of strong hydrogen bonding interactions among the hydroxyl (–OH), carbonyl (CO) and silanol (Si–OH) groups, while the XRD analysis revealed improved crystallinity, following kaolinite incorporation. The nanocomposite containing 1.5 wt% kaolinite exhibited optimal performance, with 35.6% improved tensile strength and maximum degradation temperature of 367.82°C, surpassing that of neat PLA along with a well‐dispersed morphology, as evident from FE‐SEM analysis. The D‐limonene coated composites exhibited effective antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the growth of
Staphylococcus aureus
(
S. aureus
) and
Escherichia coli
(
E. coli
), while maintaining cytocompatibility towards HEK‐293 cells. Furthermore, the films effectively extended the shelf life of black grapes, highlighting their potentials in active packaging applications and underscoring the nanocomposites' promise in enhancing food preservation, by extending postharvest shelflife and safety.
Dipjyoti Bora, Chayanika Bharadwaj, R. Purbey et al.· Polymer Engineering & Sc...· 0 citations
This work presents a mechanically robust, highly efficient, and exceptionally safe light-activated platform for advanced wound dressing applications and demonstrates strict biosafety without collateral phototoxicity.
Poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate (PVA/SA) hydrogels are promising tissue-contact biomaterials; however, the comparative effects of different reinforcing nanoparticles within the same polymer matrix remain insufficiently clarified. This study aimed to compare the structural and biological performance of PVA/SA hydrogel scaffolds reinforced with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), hydroxyapatite (HAp), and graphene oxide nanosheets (GONs) under identical preparation conditions. PVA/SA-based hydrogels were prepared using freeze–thaw processing and evaluated by electron microscopy, EDXS, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy. Their swelling behavior, in vitro mass loss in PBS, antibacterial activity, L929 fibroblast cytocompatibility, hemolytic activity, and blood clotting index (BCI) were also examined. The maximum swelling ratios were 3.70 for PVA/SA, 2.46 for PVA/SA/ZnONPs, 3.39 for PVA/SA/HAp, and 3.20 for PVA/SA/GONs. After 28 days, mass loss reached 13.1% for PVA/SA, 15.9% for PVA/SA/ZnONPs, 10.5% for PVA/SA/HAp, and 10.1% for PVA/SA/GONs. The MTT assay showed acceptable cytocompatibility in all groups, with L929 cell viability of 91.74 ± 3.49% for PVA/SA, 84.35 ± 2.68% for PVA/SA/ZnONPs, 95.28 ± 2.28% for PVA/SA/HAp, and 78.55 ± 6.15% for PVA/SA/GONs after 48 h. ZnO produced the most pronounced antibacterial effect, although the activity was moderate in absolute terms, reducing S. aureus by 34.6% and K. pneumoniae by 18.5%, while other formulations showed only marginal reductions (≤7%). Hemolysis values were 3.4% for PVA/SA, 1.8% for PVA/SA/ZnONPs, 1.9% for PVA/SA/HAp, and 6.3% for PVA/SA/GONs. At 5 min, BCI values were 34.22%, 54.89%, 52.74%, and 8.7%, respectively. Overall, ZnONPs improved antibacterial activity, HAp provided the most favorable cytocompatibility and stability profile, while GONs showed a comparatively higher hemolytic response. These findings highlight the importance of nanoparticle selection in designing PVA/SA hydrogel scaffolds for tissue-contact applications.
N. Abuhamed, E. Dinçer, Kerim Emre Öksüz· ACS Omega· 0 citations
