مشخصات پژوهش

Abstract In situ hydrogel dressings are an excellent choice for wound healing, particularly for dry wounds, due to their high-water content, soft elastic consistency, ability to deliver therapeutic agents, and ease of use. This study aims to create a sprayable wound dressing using a blend of biocompatible polymers, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alginate (Alg), enhancing healing properties by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and aloe vera (AV) through the simultaneous spraying of a mixture of polymers and crosslinkers (boric acid and calcium chloride). The effects of ZnO and AV amounts on dressing properties such as swelling ratio, water content, degradation, viscosity, evaporation rate, mechanical strength, antibacterial properties, and in vivo wound healing were studied. The dressing with a ZnO/AV ratio of 3/1 (wt%) exhibited a uniform surface with exceptional properties. After 14 days, the mass loss of PVA-Alg/ZnO-AV 3:1 was 41%, lower than that of PVA-Alg (60%). The tensile strength of the hydrogels increased from 15.4 to 194.2 kPa, and the elastic modulus rose from 1.3 to 3.08 kPa with higher ZnO concentration. Additionally, antibacterial behavior was observed in dressings with added ZnO, while no activity was detected in two commercial dressings (Sorbact and ChitoHeal). In vivo studies on rats, through histopathological analysis using H&E staining, revealed that wound healing on day 14 was most effective in the PVA-Alg/ZnO-AV 3:1 dressing compared to the control group and commercial dressings (p < 0.01). This effective hydrogel could serve as a valuable spray wound dressing to promote healing and prevent infections.