Antimicrobial hydrocolloid composite sponge with on-demand dissolving property, consisting mainly of zinc oxide nanoparticles, hydroxypropyl chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol

Qun Wang; Xue Zhang; Xin Fang; Luyao Sun; Xianglong Wang; Hong Chen; Ningwen Zhu

doi:10.1515/polyeng-2023-0024

Article

Antimicrobial hydrocolloid composite sponge with on-demand dissolving property, consisting mainly of zinc oxide nanoparticles, hydroxypropyl chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol

Qun Wang , Xue Zhang , Xin Fang , Luyao Sun , Xianglong Wang , Hong Chen and Ningwen Zhu

Published/Copyright: September 12, 2023

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From the journal Journal of Polymer Engineering Volume 43 Issue 9

Abstract

Effective anti-infection prophylaxis for chronic wounds can reduce the risk of wound infection and improve healing rates. The use of good anti-infection wound dressings is particularly important. In this paper, an antimicrobial composite hydrocolloid sponge dressing with zinc oxide nanoparticles, hydroxypropyl chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol as the main components was prepared using freeze-drying of the formulated suspensions. The characterizations by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed; the antibacterial activity was determined; the on-demand dissolving properties were evaluated; and the basic properties such as porosity, vapor permeability, and water absorption were measured. The results showed that, when the mass ratio of HPCs/PVA was 6:4, the porosity, the steam permeability, the water absorption ratio, and dynamic complete dissolving time in 1 % acetic acid aqueous solution, respectively, reached the optimum value of 63.2 %, 57.7 %, 54.4, and 35 min. Antibacterial activity experiments showed that the sponges significantly inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In conclusion, the above results indicate that the prepared hydrocolloid composite sponge has good air permeability, water absorption, antibacterial activity, and on-demand dissolving property and has potential applications in anti-infection treatment of hypo-exudative chronic wounds and pressure sore prevention.

Keywords: antibacterial; composite sponge; hydroxypropyl chitosan; polyvinyl alcohol; ZnO nanoparticles

Corresponding authors: Qun Wang, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceutical Chemicals Biologically Manufacturing, Taizhou University, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu, China, E-mail: wangqun0910@126.com; and Ningwen Zhu, Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Jing’an District, Shanghai 200040, China, E-mail: drnwzhu@126.com

Funding source: Scientific Research Starting Foundation of Taizhou University

Award Identifier / Grant number: QD2016004

Funding source: National Key R&D Program of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2021YFA1101100

Funding source: Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Award Identifier / Grant number: Grant no. XDA* (XDA16040400)

Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: 82172218

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Jiangsu Da Lian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd for providing convenience and assistance in the completion of this study. Thanks also to Professor Zhu Ningwen’s team from the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, for providing valuable suggestions, guidance, and inspiration for this study.

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Author contributions: The authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: The authors state no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
Research funding: This work was supported by (1) National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFA1101100); (2) Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences grant no. XDA* (XDA16040400); (3) National Natural Science Foundation of China (82172218); and (4) Scientifc Research Starting Foundation of Taizhou University (QD2016004).
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/polyeng-2023-0024).

Received: 2023-02-08

Accepted: 2023-08-18

Published Online: 2023-09-12

Published in Print: 2023-10-26

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Supplementary Material

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https://doi.org/10.1515/polyeng-2023-0024

Keywords for this article

antibacterial; composite sponge; hydroxypropyl chitosan; polyvinyl alcohol; ZnO nanoparticles