The present work envisages a simple approach to synthesize a new
wound dressing based on
chitosan-
dialdehyde cellulose nanocrystal-
silver nanoparticles (CS-DCNC-AgNPs).
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were generated in-situ by
periodate oxidation of
cellulose nanocrystals to generate
aldehyde functions, which were used to reduce Ag⁺ into Ag⁰ in mild alkaline conditions. Subsequently, the
dialdehyde cellulose nanocrystal-
silver nanoparticles (DCNC-AgNPs) were added to
chitosan (CS) to form the
wound dressings by
solution casting method. The aim was to enhance the antibacterial effect of CS by incorporation of AgNPs and to improve the mechanical strength and hydrophobicity of CS by incorporation of DCNC that cross-linked by hydrogen bonds. The antibacterial activities were evaluated against five gram-negative bacteria, one gram-positive bacteria, and three fungi. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay was performed using the NIH3T3 cell lines by
Sulforhodamine B assay. Research outputs signified that CS-DCNC-AgNPs possessed good mechanical strength and hydrophobicity, high antibacterial activity and less cytotoxicity. Our results propose that CS-DCNC-AgNPs can be a promising, safe antibacterial to be incorporated in
wound dressings.