In-situ silver nanoparticles incorporated N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan based adhesive, self-healing, conductive, antibacterial and anti-biofilm hydrogel

Hydrogels are excellent wound healing materials. However, due to the wear and tear at the wound site, hydrogels can lose their structural and functional integrity. To overcome this and to effectively seal the wound and control infection, an in-situ silver nanoparticles (AgNps) incorporated N , O -carboxymethyl chitosan ( N , O -CMC) based self-healing hydrogel using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-ferric ion (EDTA: Fe 3+ ) complex was developed. The prepared N , O -CMC/AgNps hydrogel was characterized using FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The developed N , O -CMC/AgNps hydrogel was found to be adhesive, injectable, conductive, bio-compatible, and showed antibacterial activity against ATCC and clinical strains of E. coli , K. pneumonia , P. aeruginosa , S. aureus and MRSA. N , O -CMC/AgNps hydrogel also showed anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus , E. coli , and P. aeruginosa (ATCC strains). This developed antibacterial and self-healing N , O -CMC/AgNps hydrogel can be used in the treatment of infected wounds.