Biodegradable Starch-Based Polyvinyl Alcohol Films with Zinc-Oxide Particles for Wound Dressing Applications

Starch-based composites as wound dressings feature biodegradability, antibacterial activity, and healing properties around wound areas. Available wound dressings have some significant drawbacks, such as water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and low absorption of wound exudates. In this work, starch-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend with embedded zinc oxide (ZnO) particles (<5µm) was prepared and modified using citric acid (CA), which provides an antibacterial environment, for wound dressing applications. The prepared film characteristics were evaluated by UV-Vis spectrometry, and the results demonstrated interactions between the zinc oxide (ZnO) particles and the starch/PVA blends. Besides, the water vapor transmission rate of the film was measured, and results illustrated an optimal moisture environment needed for the ideal wound healing process, which also promotes applying this film as a wound dressing. The developed materials were demonstrated to have proper physical properties such as solubility, gel fraction, swelling index, biodegradability, and mechanical strength. Furthermore, the pH level of the created material was measured to ensure the antibacterial properties of this material as a wound dressing application.