Design and Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Kappa‐Carrageenan Pickering Emulsion Biocomposite Films for Potential Wound Care Applications

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A 2025-01, Vol.113 (1), p.e37850-n/a
• Main Authors: Yeşilyurt, Ayşenur, Mayakrishnan, Gopiraman, Parın, Uğur, Kim, Ick Soo, Parın, Fatma Nur, Ullah, Azeem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; anti‐bacterial efficiency; Bandages; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; biocomposite film; Biological activity; Biomedical materials; Carrageenan; Carrageenan - chemistry; Carrageenans; Composite materials; Contact angle; E coli; Emulsions; Emulsions - chemistry; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Essential oils; Gram-negative bacteria; juniper essential oil; Mechanical properties; Medical dressings; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; modified sepiolite; Modulus of elasticity; Polyvinyl alcohol; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Porosity; PVA/carrageenan; Scavenging; Sepiolite; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Tensile Strength; Wound healing; Wound Healing - drug effects; Wounds
• ISSN: 1549-3296; 1552-4965; 1552-4965
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37850

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and kappa‐carrageenan (κCA) biocomposite films using a Pickering emulsion technique for wound care applications. Juniper essential oil and modified sepiolite were incorporated to enhance functionality, with films prepared via solvent casting and characterized for structural, thermal, and mechanical properties. The PCOS‐2 film exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with Young's modulus of 6.25 ± 1.3 MPa, tensile strength of 5.65 ± 1.7 MPa, and elongation at break of 608.96% ± 72.8%. Antibacterial assays showed inhibition zones of 9 and 10 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, for the PCOS‐2 film, while antioxidant activity reached 63% DPPH radical scavenging after 12 h. Additionally, porosity and hydrophilicity were enhanced, as indicated by contact angles of 55° for the control film and 71.2° for PCOS‐2. These results underscore the potential of PVA/κCA biocomposite films as sustainable and bioactive wound dressings, combining mechanical resilience, bioactivity, and environmental compatibility, with future efforts focused on optimizing antibacterial efficacy against gram‐negative bacteria and clinical validation.