Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles and evaluation of physical and antimicrobial properties of Ag/PVA/starch nanocomposites hydrogel membranes for wound dressing application

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using Diospyros lotus fruit extract. Plant biomolecules were extracted through two solvents i.e. water and methanol. Effect of both solvents on the extraction process as well as effect of both extracts on the reduction of precursor salt to NPs has been studied and reported. Employing the synthesized Ag NPs as a component of nanocomposites, hydrogel membranes were prepared with starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Synthesized Ag NPs as well as prepared nanocomposites membranes were fully characterized through FTIR, XRD, SEM and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The ultimate tensile strength of the hydrogel membranes with 50 ppm Ag NPs was found to be highest among all the compositions while swelling tendency of the membranes was found to increase with increase in the NPs concentrations. Additionally, no significant decrease in gel fraction of the hydrogel membranes could be observed with the addition of NPs. However, addition of NPs resulted in reduced water evaporation from the membranes. Finally, anti-bacterial WA of the Ag NPs as well as hydrogel membranes showed comparable results as shown for the ciprofloxacin, indicating the potential of such membranes to be used in wound dressing application.