SYNTHESIS OF ANTIBACTERIAL PVA-AAM PICKERING EMULSION HYDROGELS (PEHs) FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Citronella essential oil (CEO) has antibacterial characteristics that can be used in medical applications. Polyvinyl alcohol/acrylamide (PVA/AAm) hydrogels including CEO were stabilized utilizing beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) carbonhydrate-based material. In this context, PVA polymer, and AAm monomer were used as matrix (water phase) whereas CEO and (oil phase) and carbohydrate-based β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were used in the emulsion system as an active agent and an emulsifier, respectively. The β-CD/CEO inclusion complexes were introduced to PVA/AAm hydrogels in different ratios (1:0.25, 1:0.5, and 1:1% w/v), and to obtain Pickering hydrogels by combining UV and freeze-thawing and anneal-swelling methods, respectively. The influence of different β-CD/CEO ratios on the morphological, physical, hydrophilicity and antibacterial efficiency of PVA/AAm was studied, as well. Although the amount of CEO increased, the hydrophilicity of hydrogels increased, while the swelling properties of hydrogels decreased. Moreover, the hydrogel with the highest amount of CEO showed the highest value of antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The resulting Pickering hydrogels (PEHs) can be a potential use as tissue expander for many medical field.