Fe-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Chitosan-Based Hybrid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Skin Wound Healing Applications

Abstract

The treatment of chronic and acute skin wounds with multifunctional materials prevents infection, manages inflammation and promotes tissue regeneration. Fe/ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a chemically-controlled precipitation method and embedded the resulting nanoparticles within a biocompatible Chitosan matrix as Fe/ZnO@CS hybrid nanoparticles. A comprehensive characterization by UV-Vis DRS, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX and HR-TEM confirmed Fe's integration into the ZnO lattice, uniform NP dispersion and chitosan capping. Meanwhile, for the nanocomposite, its smaller band gap and longer electron lifetime promoted stronger antibacterial and catalytic behavior. Biological assays showed strong antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and drug-resistant MRSA, with almost complete bacteria killing within 120 minutes. In vitro L929 fibroblast assays demonstrated outstanding cytocompatibility, increased proliferation, and rapid wound closure, while RAW 264.7 macrophage studies verified reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide production, highlighting notable anti-inflammatory capacity. These results suggest Fe/ZnO@CS nanoparticles as a potential multifunctional platform for next generation wound healing.