Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial Efficiency of Electron Irradiation Synthesized Polyvinyl Alcohol /Pectin Hydrogel Loaded Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles for Wound Healing

This work aimed to use an electron beam irradiation facility for crosslinking and sterilization. A novel crosslinked hydrogel dressing based on pectin (Pect) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel dressing loaded with silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles was created to evaluate the antibacterial efficiency and healing effect application. A series of (PVA/Pect)/ SiO2 nanocomposite hydrogels were designed at different compositions by using an electron beam irradiation eco-friendliness facility. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Scanning electron micrographs revealed the uniform distribution of the SiO2 nanoparticles along the dressing network, which shows that the SiO2 nanoparticles help build the internal structure of the hydrogel network, resulting in a homogeneous porosity. The physical properties of the prepared hydrogel, such as gelation and swelling, were studied to evaluate the hydrogel for wound dressing. The ability to absorb fluid, the retention of water, and porosity, are all studied. SiO2 was incorporated into the (PVA/Pect) hydrogels at different concentrations (1–10) % w/w total solid). The antibacterial and healing effects of (PVA/Pect)/ (SiO2), were studied against some pathogenic bacteria isolated from wounds. The obtained data indicated the non-toxic nature and biocompatibility of prepared dressing hydrogels that are designed to be used for wound dressing applications.