Impacts of Chitosan-Modified Nanocaly on Physico-mechanical Properties of PVA Hydrogel Wound Dressing

In this work, effects of a bio-modified nanoclay with chitosan on the gel content, equilibrium swelling and tensile mechanical properties of PVA hydrogel wound dressings prepared by electron beam irradiation technique were investigated. For this purpose, using a rapid method, the clay nanoparticles were first modified by chitosan. Then, PVA nanocomposite hydrogel samples were made by electron beam irradiation of PVA aqueous solutions containing various amounts of pristine clay nanoparticles (PCNPs) or chitosanmodified clay nanoparticles (CMCNPs) at the dose of 25 kGy. XRD results analysis confirmed successful modification of clay nanoparticles by chitosan. These results also revealed a better dispersion of CMCNPs than that of PCNPs within PVA nanocomposite hydrogels. Generally, all nanocomposite hydrogel samples show higher values of swelling than pure PVA hydrogel. These values were larger for the samples with PCNPs, in comparison with the samples with CMCNPs. On the other hand, the nanoparticles played a dual role, depended on their content, to affect the equilibrium swelling of the nanocomposite hydrogels The tensile strength and the elongation at break of PVA hydrogle were reinforced and reduced, respectively, by addition of PCNPs or CMCNPs to the hydrogel. The mechanical properties alterations were also depended on the nanoparticles content and more significant in the presence of CMCNPs.

Keywords:

Polyvinyl alcohol , Nanocomposite hydrogel , Chitosan modification , Physico-mechanical properties , Electron beam irradiation