Antibacterial wound dressing with cross‐linked electrospun surface from reduced graphene oxide doped polyvinyl alcohol/sodium caseinate blends

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, a new biomaterial with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium caseinate (SodCa)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) structure was developed. Antibacterial effective nanofibers were successfully produced by electrospinning method from 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% rGO added PVA/SodCa (60:40, w:w) solution mixtures prepared for use as modern wound dressings. To create a usage area, especially in exuding wounds, hydrophilic PVA/SodCa/rGO electrospun mats were cross‐linked by dipping them in a glutaraldehyde (GLA) bath. The surface micrographs of all nanofibers were homogeneous and smooth. rGO‐doped biomaterials were obtained as thin nanofibers in the range of 301–348 nm. Nanofibers, which were completely soluble in water, after cross‐linking preserved their existence in the range of 87%–81% at the end of the 24th hour in distilled water. It was reported that these biomaterials that persist in an aqueous environment show swelling behavior in the range of 275%–608%. The porosity of uncross‐linked pure PVA/SodCa nanofibers increased by 46.75% after cross‐linking. Moreover, the tensile strength of cross‐linked PVA/SodCa electrospun mats increased in the presence of rGO. Provided that wound dressing is done every 24 h with 3% rGO‐doped PVA/SodCa nanofiber and provided that wound dressing is done every 48 h with 5% rGO‐doped PVA/SodCa nanofiber showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus as 99.38% and 99.55%, respectively.