Title : Preparation and characterization of fibers made from PCL/PVP-ChAgG, along with exploring their potential as wound dressings
Abstract:
Wound dressings serve to clean, cover, and shield wounds from external elements, impacting healing time, cost-efficiency, and patient well-being. Electrospun fibers offer promise in this realm due to their diverse attributes such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical strength, and moisture control. Incorporating antimicrobial properties is crucial, hence, this study aims to develop wound dressings using functionalized electrospun nanofibers of poly (caprolactone)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PCL/PVP) blended with a nanocomposite of Chitosan/Silver Nanocrystals/Graphene Oxide (ChAgG). ChAgG combines Chitosan from corn, silver nanocrystals from garlic, and Graphene Oxide. These fibers were functionalized with varying proportions of ChAgG nanocomposite solution through blending electrospinning. Characterization via techniques like FTIR, XPS, and TEM confirmed the composition of the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy assessed fibrous dressing morphology and diameter, while thermal analyses and FTIR demonstrated ChAgG incorporation into the polymeric matrix. Mechanical testing favored fibers with 5% ChAgG for wound dressing applications. Antibacterial assays highlighted improved efficacy against Escherichia coli over Staphylococcus aureus. Future endeavors may involve biocompatibility studies and animal testing to further validate the system's efficacy, paving the way for an optimized, antimicrobial wound dressing with market competitiveness.
