Hydrogel Dressings with Antimicrobial and Healing Properties

The current study aimed to develop hydrogels as delivery systems based on a mixture of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers (i.e., gelatin and collagen) for encapsulating different active principles (i.e., chamomile and plantain tincture, aloe vera and propolis) to obtain dressings for treating first-degree burns injuries. The synthesized hydrogels were then immobilized on a textile material made from 100% cotton fibers. The functionalized textile materials were analyzed in terms of physical-mechanical characteristics, water absorbency and antibacterial activity. SEM analysis was used to investigate the morphology of the cotton fibers after the functionalized treatment. The antibacterial activity of the treated samples was qualitatively assessed through the Agar diffusion method by using cultures in a liquid medium of S. aureus and E. coli test strains. The obtained overall results indicated that incorporating of these active principles into the polymeric hydrogels can significantly enhance the potential efficiency of the fabrics as dressings with antimicrobial and healing accelerating properties and can be an appropriate option for treating first-degree burns injuries.