Preparation and characterization of antimicrobial wound dressings based on silver, gellan, PVA and borax

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2012-10, Vol.90 (3), p.1362-1370
• Main Authors: Cencetti, C., Bellini, D., Pavesio, A., Senigaglia, D., Passariello, C., Virga, A., Matricardi, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; Applied sciences; Bandages; Biological and medical sciences; Borates - chemistry; Borates - pharmacology; borax; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers and threads; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Gellan; Hyaff; hydrophilicity; Medical sciences; Nonwoven; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - chemistry; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - pharmacology; polyvinyl alcohol; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Polyvinyl Alcohol - pharmacology; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Silver; Silver - chemistry; Silver - pharmacology; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Wound healing; Wound Healing - drug effects; Wounds and Injuries - therapy
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.07.005

► We prepared a silver dressings with a strong antimicrobial activity. ► The dressing has high water uptake capability, fundamental for the absorption of the wound exudates. ► The PVA film decreases the dehydration rate of the dressing, reducing the risk of painful adhesions. ► The borax crosslinking reduces the silver release rate. Silver-loaded dressings are designed to provide the same antimicrobial activity of topical silver, with the advantages of a sustained silver release and a reduced number of dressing changes. Moreover, such type of dressing must provide a moist environment, avoiding fiber shedding, dehydration and adherence to the wound site. Here we describe the preparation of a novel silver-loaded dressing based on a Gellan/Hyaff® (Ge-H) non woven, treated with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/borax system capable to enhance the entrapment of silver in the dressing and to modulate its release. The new hydrophilic non woven dressings show enhanced water uptake capability and slow dehydration rates. A sustained silver release is also achieved. The antibacterial activity was confirmed on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.