Journal Article

Hydrogel-Containing Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: Antibacterial Action, Evaluation of Wound Healing, and Bioaccumulation in Wistar Rats

Kimura, Angela Hitomi, Nakazato, Gerson, Risso, Wagner Ezequiel, da Silva, João Vinícius Honório, de Camargo, Larissa Ciappina, Scandorieiro, Sara, dos Reis Martinez, Claudia Bueno, de Andrade, Fábio Goulart, Zaia, Cássia Thaïs Bussamra Vieira, Gonçalves, Marcelly Chue, Lonni, Audrey Alesandra Stinghen Garcia, Durán, Nelson, Kobayashi, Renata Katsuko Takayama

2023

Overview

Wound infections are feared complications due to their potential to increase healthcare costs and cause mortality since multidrug-resistant bacteria reduce treatment options. This study reports the development of a carbomer hydrogel containing biogenic silver nanoparticles (bioAgNPs) and its effectiveness in wound treatment. This hydrogel showed in vitro bactericidal activity after 2 h, according to the time–kill assay. It also reduced bacterial contamination in rat wounds without impairing their healing since the hydrogel hydrophilic groups provided hydration for the injured skin. The high number of inflammatory cells in the first days of the skin lesion and the greater degree of neovascularization one week after wound onset showed that the healing process occurred normally. Furthermore, the hydrogel-containing bioAgNPs did not cause toxic silver accumulation in the organs and blood of the rats. This study developed a bioAgNP hydrogel for the treatment of wounds; it has a potent antimicrobial action without interfering with cicatrization or causing silver bioaccumulation. This formulation is effective against bacteria that commonly cause wound infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, and for which new antimicrobials are urgently needed, according to the World Health Organization’s warning.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Analysis / angiogenesis / anti-infective agents / antibacterial properties / Antiinfectives and antibacterials / Antimicrobial agents / Bacteria / bacterial contamination / Bactericidal activity / Bioaccumulation / Biosynthesis / blood / Care and treatment / cicatrization / Complications and side effects / Contamination / Drug resistance in microorganisms / E coli / Escherichia coli / Fusarium oxysporum / Gels (Pharmacy) / green nanotechnology / Health aspects / health services / Hydrogels / hydrophilicity / Infections / Inflammation / Medical care, Cost of / Microorganisms / Morphology / mortality / Multidrug resistance / Multidrug resistant organisms / multiple drug resistance / Nanoparticles / nanosilver / Nanotechnology / Pandemics / Prevention / Pseudomonas aeruginosa / rats / Silver / Skin / Skin diseases / Skin lesions / Spectrum analysis / Staphylococcus aureus / Staphylococcus aureus infections / toxicity / Vascularization / World Health Organization / Wound healing / Wound infection / wound treatment