Preparation of a metal and herbal nanocomposite (HCNC): Coating onto wound dressing materials and evaluating its pharmacological properties like antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility

Abstract

Background: Copper oxide nanoparticles with extracts of Smilax china synthesized as a nanocomposite (HCNC) was studied in the present study. Wound dressing materials, bamboo and cotton were coated with HCNC and its pharmacological properties like antimicrobial activity was determined against diabetic wound pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus. Methodology: Four different ratios (1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 2:2) of HCNC were prepared separately and coated onto bamboo and cotton materials using a standard slurry-dipping technique. All the coated materials were investigated for its antibacterial activity, topographical analysis using scanning electron microscope and biocompatible properties using a standard HET-CAM assay. Four different ratios of HCNC coated onto bamboo and cotton materials showed good antibacterial activity against all the seven strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Inhibitory Clear Zones (ICZ) for different ratios of HCNC coated bamboo and cotton ranges from 40-52 and 38-51 mm, respectively when tested against all the seven strains. Results: During HET-CAM assay no irritation endpoints were observed for the wound dressing materials coated with HCNC, which determined its biocompatible property. Conclusion: The present study was carried out on an understanding of the mechanisms underlying this process has salient clinical application, as wound healing may be pharmacologically modulated to enhance repair of any tissue injury.