Integrated poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide/silver nanocomposite: synthesis, characterization and wound healing potential in Wistar Albino rats

Abstract

Over the past few centuries, interest in novel metal nanoparticles has expanded quickly with the inclusion of new nanocomposites into a variety of products and technologies. Recently, nanocomposites prepared by the distribution of inorganic nanoparticles in polymeric matrices have found a prominent role in biomedical applications. In this report, we attempt to formulate a biodegradable poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymer based biogenic silver nanocomposite using a modified solvent casting method. The silver nanoparticles mediated by Origanum vulgare aqueous leaf extract (Ag NPs) and formulated silver polymeric nanocomposite (PLGA/Ag NC) show absorbance spectra at 420 nm under UV-visible spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms that Ag NPs utilized the carbonyl functional group present in the PLGA polymer for the successful formation of PLGA/Ag NC. Scanning electron microscopy analysis notably showed that PLGA/Ag NC was found to be spherical and irregular in shape, distributed in the polymer matrix. A dynamic light scattering measurement showed that PLGA/Ag NC has an average particle size distribution of 115 nm, and the zeta potential was −33 mV. The PLGA/Ag NC crystalline nature was confirmed using X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, PLGA/Ag NC improves wound healing in the excision wound which was established using wound closure, histopathology, protein profiling, and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 expression. The analysis results clearly show that PLGA/Ag NC enhances the wound healing activity by the sustained release of Ag NPs, upregulates protein expression and inhibits pathogenic bacterial growth in the wound area. In conclusion, PLGA/Ag NC could be a novel therapeutic agent for wound treatment.