PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GAMMA-RAY IRRADIATED GELATIN/PVA HYDROGEL CONTAINING SILVER NANOPARTICLES

Wound dressing is an important medical product. Antibacterial wound dressing has an important role in an infection wound care. However, antibacterial wound dressing is expensive and has a few domestic manufacturing. This study aimed to prepare a hydrogel antibacterial wound dressing from gelatin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The gelatin hydrogels and gelatin/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) hydrogels were prepared by gamma irradiation. A 15 wt% gelatin solution was mixed with a 15 wt% PVA solution at different weight ratios of 100:0, 80:20, and 60:40 w/w, and irradiated at 30, 40, or 50 kGy. The results showed that the addition of PVA can enhance both the durability and the mechanical integrity. The hydrogels made from the 60:40 composition at 30 kGy were the most appropriated selection. This condition was then chosen to add silver nitrate (AgNO3) at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 wt% (based on solid content). Formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was discovered after irradiation. The AgNP/gelatin/PVA hydrogels were characterized for their physical properties, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The results indicated that the AgNP/gelatin/PVA hydrogels had a potential to used as an anti-bacterial wound dressing. The hydrogels in this study had appropriate physical properties, low-cytotoxicity, and antibacterial activity.