Gentamicin-loaded chitosan/folic acid-based carbon quantum dots nanocomposite hydrogel films as potential antimicrobial wound dressing

Abstract

Background To provide effective healing in the wound, various carbohydrate polymers are commonly utilized that are highly potent platforms as wound dressing films. In this work, novel antibacterial flexible polymeric hydrogel films were designed via crosslinking polymeric chitosan (CS) with folic acid-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs). To end this, folic acid as a bio-precursor is used to synthesize CQDs through the hydrothermal technique. The synthesized CQDs as a crosslinking agent was performed at different concentrations to construct nanocomposite hydrogel films via the casting technique. Also, gentamicin (GM), L-Arginine and glycerol were supplemented in the formulation of nanocomposite since their antibiotic, bioactivity and plasticizing ability, respectively. Results The successful construction of films were verified with different methods (FT-IR, UV-Vis, PL, SEM, and AFM analyses). The GM release profile displayed a controlled release manner over 48 h with a low initial burst release in the simulated wound media (PBS, pH 7.4). Antibacterial and in vitro cytotoxicity results showed a significant activity toward different gram-positive and negative bacterial strains (about 2.5 ± 0.1 cm inhibition zones) and a desired cytocompatibility against Human skin fibroblast (HFF-1) cells (over 80% cell viability), respectively. Conclusion The obtained results recommend CQDs-crosslinked CS (CS/CQD) nanocomposite as a potent antimicrobial wound dressing. Graphical Abstract

Antimicrobial Hydrogels: Potential Materials for Medical Application

“…The membrane had good cytocompatibility with human skin fibroblasts (HFF-1) as an antibacterial wound dressing, good coagulation, and hemostatic ability, and the slowrelease effect of the hydrogel membrane on antibiotics greatly reduced bacterial resistance. [89] Patterned microstructured nanofibrous mat/gentamicin-loaded hydrogel composite scaffolds promoting wound excision healing and preventing bacterial infections through low inflammation and rapid epithelial regeneration and angiogenesis prepared by Razali et al These scaffolds have customized features capable of accelerating wound healing (Figure 7a). [90] Fu et al prepared a double cross-linked interpenetrating polymer network P(AA-co-HEMA) GEN hydrogel using the antibiotic gentamicin (GEN) as a dynamic physical crosslinker and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid (AA) radical polymerization.…”

“…[111,130] Kazeminava et al prepared nanocomposite hydrogel films by cross-linking polymeric chitosan (CS) with folic acid-based carbon quantum dots (CQD) using a casting method, and the hydrogels inhibited bacteria with controlled release of gentamicin, L-arginine, and glycerol. [89] Wu et al prepared carbon dot/polyacrylamide (CDS/PAM) composite hydrogel films with stable fluorescence properties by hydrothermal synthesis using anhydrous citric acid and acrylamide as carbon sources, which can be used for the quantitative detection of the antibacterial drug ornidazole (ONZ). [131] Türk et al prepared pH-sensitive and injectable hydrogels (NCQD/Dox/HA hydrogels) containing nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQD), adriamycin (Dox) and hydroxyapatite (HA) by in situ self-crosslinking method through the reaction of nanoquantum dots with Schiff bases, hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions with HA and Dox.…”

“…prepared nanocomposite hydrogel films by cross‐linking polymeric chitosan (CS) with folic acid‐based carbon quantum dots (CQD) using a casting method, and the hydrogels inhibited bacteria with controlled release of gentamicin, L‐arginine, and glycerol. [ 89 ] Wu et al. prepared carbon dot/polyacrylamide (CDS/PAM) composite hydrogel films with stable fluorescence properties by hydrothermal synthesis using anhydrous citric acid and acrylamide as carbon sources, which can be used for the quantitative detection of the antibacterial drug ornidazole (ONZ).…”

Synergistic and Long-Lasting Wound Dressings Promote Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus-Infected Wound Healing

“…[28][29][30] Moreover, these properties combine the advantages of both hydrogels (eg, pore sizes, hydrophilicity, mechanics) and CQDs (eg, high surface area, chemical activity, aggregation-caused quenching, mechanics), presenting a win-win strategy. [31][32][33] While CQDs have been incorporated into hydrogels as main components of antibacterial hydrogels, 34,21 but the combination therapy of CQDs and hydrogels has rarely been reported or applied in clinical settings.…”

Amikacin-Loaded Chitosan Hydrogel Film Cross-Linked with Folic Acid for Wound Healing Application

“…[8,9]. Additionally, due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, antiinfection, antimicrobial, and hemostatic ability features, it can be used widely in biobased and biomedical applications [10][11][12]. However, the majority of these uses for chitosan pertain to its hydrogel forms.…”