Alginate/PVA Hydrogel Incorporating HA-Liposomes and Aronia-Derived Silver Nanoparticles for Advanced Wound Management

Abstract

Chronic wounds remain a persistent clinical challenge due to delayed healing, recurrent infections, and limited effectiveness of conventional dressings. To address these unmet needs, we designed a multifunctional hydrogel system based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and alginate (ALG), incorporating hyaluronic acid (HA)-loaded dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes for regenerative stimulation and Aronia-mediated silver nanoparticles (Ag_Aro) for antimicrobial protection. Physicochemical analyses (DLS, SEM, FTIR) confirmed the successful assembly of the system and demonstrated distinct particle sizes, pore morphologies, and structural interactions. Swelling and degradation studies revealed favorable hydration capacity and stability under physiologically relevant conditions. In vitro assays with HaCaT keratinocytes indicated excellent biocompatibility, with HA-liposomes enhancing cell viability to ~190% and Ag_Aro showing minimal cytotoxicity, likely due to polyphenolic surface capping. The combined formulation achieved a balanced swelling profile, controlled degradation, and the highest biocompatibility (~195% viability), underscoring the synergistic benefits of the dual-agent design. This study introduces, to our knowledge, the first PVA–ALG bilayer hydrogel integrating HA-liposomes and phytosynthesized AgNPs, offering a promising platform for advanced wound management. Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate its therapeutic performance.