Copper nanoparticles immersed in a Starch hydrogel for wound dressing applications

M.E. VILLANUEVA; A. DIEZ; J. GONZÁLEZ; J. PEREZ; M. OREGO; L. PIEHL; S. TEVES; COPELLO, G

Buenos Aires

Workshop; III Workshop of the project BIOPURFIL, Bio-based Polyurethane Composites with Natural Fillers; 2015

Copper and its complexes have been used for centuries as disinfectants due to their antibacterial as well as antiviral properties. Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) have an enhanced bactericidal effect compared to copper salts due to their small size and high surface to volume ratio [1]. Starch hydrogels are becoming more important mainly because of the polysaccharide biodegradability. The hydrophilic groups on the polymer chains absorb and store water, which is not released under ordinary pressure. This quality brings an specific benefit in wound treatment [2]. An ideal wound dressing should absorb exudate and possess antimicrobial properties[3]. The aim of this study was to combine a starch hydrogel with Cu NPs to form wound dressing with antimicrobial activity.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe starch hydrogel was prepared as described elsewhere [4], based on the starch gelatinization with glycerol as a plasticizer. Cu NPs were synthesized using a Copper salt and hydrazine as a reducing agent in the starch hydrogel. Then, the gels were treated with different concentrations of a TEOS sol to control Cu NPs diffusion. The obtained materials were characterized by water uptake and FT-IR. Copper diffusion was analyzed by Atomic absorption spectroscopy. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria species. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONStarch hydrogels modified with CuNPs were obtained and characterized by FT-IR. The percent mass swelling was around 100% and the same in all the treated and control samples (p>0.05). The Cu diffusion increased along with the Cu content in the gels and was modulated by TEOS incorporation Antimicrobial activity was related to Cu release in the media. The results showed that the nanocomposite hydrogels could meet the essential requirements for the reasonable wound dressing with some desirable characteristics such as relatively good swelling and excellent antimicrobial properties.