Riclin-Capped Silver Nanoparticles as an Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Wound Dressing

PURPOSE: In order to overcome the inflammatory response to bacterial infection during wound healing, we have fabricated an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory wound dressing based on polysaccharide riclin and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). METHODS: The riclin-AgNPs nanocomposite was developed by borohydride method and was characterized by UV-Vis, TEM, XRD, Zeta potential, DLS. In vitro, we assessed the cumulative release, antibacterial activities and cytotoxicity. In vivo, we examined the wound healing in mice wound infection experiment and inflammatory mediators using histological observations and gene expression analysis. RESULTS: The riclin/AgNPs nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited nanosized orbicular particles with high purity and stability. In vitro, the riclin/AgNPs showed sustained release of AgNPs, effective suppression in pathogen growth and negligible toxicity toward mammalian fibroblasts and macrophage cells. In vivo, the riclin/AgNPs treatment leads to faster and smoother growth of fresh skin with suppressed expression of inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSION: The reported Riclin-AgNPs nanocomposite hydrogel showed both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory functions, which induce significantly accelerated wound healing, indicating great potential as a novel attractive wound dressing material.