From biopolymer matrix to medicine: the drug delivery dynamics of amoxicillin-loaded PVA/SA/ZnONPs hydrogels

This research presents a comprehensive study of Polyvinyl alcohol/Sodium alginate/Zinc oxide nanoparticles (PVA/SA/ZnONPs) and PVA/SA/ZnONPs/Amoxicillin (AMX) hydrogels, demonstrating their potential for various biomedical applications. A comparative analysis of their swelling behavior, in vitro biodegradation, antibacterial properties, and drug release profiles was performed. The hydrogels demonstrated distinct swelling characteristics, with the PVA/SA/ZnONPs/AMX hydrogel showing a higher initial swelling ratio. This behavior, likely due to the increased hydrophilicity from AMX, subsequently decreased over time, indicating AMX release into the environment. The biodegradation study highlighted a faster degradation rate for the PVA/SA/ZnONPs/AMX hydrogel, suggesting its suitability for applications requiring rapid degradation, such as drug delivery systems. Regarding antibacterial properties, the PVA/SA/ZnONPs/AMX hydrogel showed significant antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, making it a strong candidate for biomedical applications necessitating antibacterial activity. Additionally, the drug release study presented a gradual and controlled release of AMX from the hydrogels over time, demonstrating their potential for sustained drug delivery applications. This research underscores the potential of PVA/SA/ZnONPs/AMX hydrogel, particularly for biomedical applications, especially in wound healing and drug delivery domains, given its potent antibacterial properties and controlled drug release behavior.