Gelatin scaffolds functionalized by silver nanoparticle-containing calcium alginate beads for wound care applications

Abstract

The embedding of silver nanoparticle (nAg)-containing calcium alginate (CaAlg) beads in gelatin scaffolds was aimed to reduce the burst release and prolong the release of silver (Ag+) ions for a long period of time. The reduced sizes of the nAg-containing CaAlg beads were prepared by an emulsification/external gelation method. The diameter of these beads was ~2 µm. The nAg-containing CaAlg beads were then embedded into gelatin scaffolds by a freeze-drying method for evaluating the potential of these scaffolds as wound dressings. The compressive modulus of these scaffolds embedded with nAg-containing CaAlg beads ranged between 7 and 9 kPa. For release study, the cumulative released amounts of Ag+ ions from the nAg-containing CaAlg beads embedded in gelatin scaffolds were lower than those from the nAg-containing CaAlg beads. Moreover, the nAg-containing CaAlg beads embedded in gelatin scaffolds had great antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. Thus, these scaffolds had potential for sustaining the release and use in wound care applications, especially chronic wound. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.