Hydrogel of carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol modified by CuNPs as antibacterial in wound dressing

Abstract

This study successfully synthesized the eco-friendly hydrogels with a three-dimensional network structure that is hydrophilic so that it can be applied as a wound dressing that can balance the moisture of wound tissue. The hydrogels were synthesized from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with citric acid (CA) as cross-linking agent. The network matrix hydrogels used as space for the formation of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) as antibacterial in wound dressing. The best hydrogel of modification by CuNPs were obtained from 3 grams CMC, 1 gram PVA, 10 % citric acid. The maximum swelling capacity obtained is 1900 wt.% and the maximum Cu2+ ions release obtained is 25 %. Antibacterial activity test was successfully carried out against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. The particle size average of hydrogel CuNps modified obtained by TEM is around 27 nm. The bacterial death percent of E. coli is 92 % and S. aureus is 90 % in the concentration of 1.25 mM Cu(NO3)2 and by total plate count method to S. aureus bacteria is 124 CFU and E. coli bacteria is 49 CFU. This showed that hydrogel modified by CuNPs better for E. coli bacteria than S. aureus bacteria. The use of CMC biopolymer-based hydrogels for wound dressing material is promising as new materials in the future.