Mechanical, Physical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties of Gelatin Films Incorporated with Thymol for Potential Use as Nano Wound Dressing

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the properties of gelatin films incorporated with thymol. Gelatin films were prepared from gelatin solutions (10% w/v) containing thymol (1, 2, 4, and 8% w/w), glycerol (25% w/w) as plasticizer, and glutaraldehyde (2% w/w) as cross‐linker. Cross‐likened films showed higher tensile strength, higher elongation at break, lower Young's modulus, lower water solubility, lower swelling, lower water uptake, and lower water vapor permeability. Incorporation of thymol caused a significant decrease in tensile strength, increase in elongation at break, decrease in Young's modulus, increase in water solubility, decrease in swelling and water uptake, and increase in water vapor permeability slightly. The films incorporated with thymol exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The antibacterial activity of the films containing thymol was greatest against Staphylucoccus aureus followed by Bacillus subtilis followed by Escherichia coli and then by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Thus, gelatin films‐containing thymol can be used as safe and effective source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents with the purpose of evaluating their potential use as modern nano wound dressing. Practical Application : This study clearly demonstrates the potential of gelatin films incorporated with thymol as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial nano film. Such antimicrobial films exhibited excellent mechanical, physical, and water activities and could be used as antibacterial nano wound dressing against wounds burn pathogens.