In Vivo Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles Incorporated Keratin-Pectin Hydrogels.

Abstract

Keratin and pectin are naturally derived materials that have potential in wound treatment due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility compared to a classical dressing. Besides that, silver nanoparticles also gain research interest for wound healing due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This project aims to develop a wound dressing made from silver nanoparticles incorporated keratin-pectin hydrogels and evaluate the hydrogels􀂰 wound healing capability and antimicrobial activity. Twenty four mice were divided into three treatment groups, consisting of control (gauze), pectin 􀃃􀃚 􀃛 AgNP, and keratin-pectin 􀃂:􀃃 (􀃃􀃚) 􀃛 AgNP. The wounds were observed, and the wound size reduction was measured at allocated times. A wound swab was also performed to analyze the antimicrobial activity of the hydrogels. Both pectin AgNP and keratin-pectin AgNP groups demonstrated superior wound healing properties macroscopically. However, the pectin AgNP group had a higher wound size reduction percentage than the keratin-pectin AgNP group on day 􀃇 (p 􀃟􀃁.􀃁􀃆). There was no significant difference in wound size reduction percentage found between each group on days 􀃄 and 􀃊. Due to detached wound dressings during the study, the antimicrobial evaluation was also inconclusive. Further histology study is suggested to uncover more wound healing potential of silver nanoparticles incorporated keratin-pectin hydrogels.