Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications of Chitosan-Grafted-Poly(Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide)/ZnO Nanocomposite Hydrogel: Loading Studies, Antimicrobial Activity, Wound Healing, and Anticancer Potential
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Laboratory and Clinical Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq
- 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq
- 3Branch of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
- 4Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ebla Private University, Idlib, Syria
- 5Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ebla Private University, Idlib, Syria
- 6Department of Chemistry, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq
Abstract
Background: Effective wound dressings must combine antimicrobial action with support of tissue repair. Chitosan hydrogels are biocompatible but weakly antimicrobial, whereas ZnO nanoparticles are potent antimicrobials that need a carrier matrix. Most studies address either loading chemistry or biological performance, rarely both. Here, the ZnO-loading chemistry of a CH-g-P(AA-co-Am)/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel is linked to its biological behaviour.
Methods: The hydrogel was synthesised by free-radical graft copolymerisation (potassium persulfate initiator, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker), loaded with ZnO nanoparticles and characterised by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, AFM, EDX and TGA. ZnO loading was studied in batch experiments. Antimicrobial activity (S. aureus, E. coli, A. niger), wound healing (full-thickness excisional wounds in BALB/c mice; 24 animals in four groups of six) and cytotoxicity (A172 glioblastoma cells and the WRL68 reference line, MTT assay) were assessed.
Results: ZnO nanoparticles (20–50 nm) were uniformly dispersed in the network; EDX gave 4.3 wt% zinc, and T95% rose from 198.9 to 242.1°C. The nanocomposite swelled by 130.77%. Loading followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.9966) and the Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.916), with a Langmuir-derived reference capacity of 18.35 mg/g. Loading was endothermic (ΔH = +49.19 kJ/mol) yet spontaneous (ΔG = −2.10 kJ/mol), hence entropy-driven, consistent with mixed physical and coordinative binding of Zn2⁺ to carboxylate groups that governs zinc release. The nanocomposite gave inhibition zones of 24 ± 0.8 mm (S. aureus), 22 ± 0.6 mm (E. coli) and 25 ± 0.8 mm (A. niger) and 98.7 ± 1.1% wound closure by day 14. IC50 values against A172 were 94.97 (hydrogel) and 71.05 µg/mL (nanocomposite); IC50 ratios relative to WRL68 were 1.79 and 2.41. As WRL68 is HeLa-derived and ZnO may interfere with tetrazolium readouts, these values indicate a differential response, not tumour selectivity.
Conclusion: The CH-g-P(AA-co-Am)/ZnO nanocomposite combines controlled zinc loading, antimicrobial activity and effective wound healing in one platform, supporting its potential as a multifunctional wound dressing.
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BibTeX
@article{alzaidy2026synthesis,
title = {{Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications of Chitosan-Grafted-Poly(Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide)/ZnO Nanocomposite Hydrogel: Loading Studies, Antimicrobial Activity, Wound Healing, and Anticancer Potential}},
author = {Asaad H Alzaidy and Safaa H Ganduh and Murtadha Saleh Hussien and Asawer A Mhammed Alzayd and Ahmad Manee and Reem Hasan Obaydo and Layth S Jasim},
journal = {International Journal of Nanomedicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/ijn.s612602},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2147/ijn.s612602},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications of Chitosan-Grafted-Poly(Acrylic Acid-Co-Acrylamide)/ZnO Nanocomposite Hydrogel: Loading Studies, Antimicrobial Activity, Wound Healing, and Anticancer Potential
AU - Asaad H Alzaidy
AU - Safaa H Ganduh
AU - Murtadha Saleh Hussien
AU - Asawer A Mhammed Alzayd
AU - Ahmad Manee
AU - Reem Hasan Obaydo
AU - Layth S Jasim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - International Journal of Nanomedicine
DO - 10.2147/ijn.s612602
UR - https://doi.org/10.2147/ijn.s612602
AB - Background: Effective wound dressings must combine antimicrobial action with support of tissue repair. Chitosan hydrogels are biocompatible but weakly antimicrobial, whereas ZnO nanoparticles are potent antimicrobials that need a carrier matrix. Most studies address either loading chemistry or biological performance, rarely both. Here, the ZnO-loading chemistry of a CH-g-P(AA-co-Am)/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel is linked to its biological behaviour. Methods: The hydrogel was synthesised by free-radical graft copolymerisation (potassium persulfate initiator, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker), loaded with ZnO nanoparticles and characterised by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, AFM, EDX and TGA. ZnO loading was studied in batch experiments. Antimicrobial activity (S. aureus, E. coli, A. niger), wound healing (full-thickness excisional wounds in BALB/c mice; 24 animals in four groups of six) and cytotoxicity (A172 glioblastoma cells and the WRL68 reference line, MTT assay) were assessed. Results: ZnO nanoparticles (20–50 nm) were uniformly dispersed in the network; EDX gave 4.3 wt% zinc, and T95% rose from 198.9 to 242.1°C. The nanocomposite swelled by 130.77%. Loading followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.9966) and the Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.916), with a Langmuir-derived reference capacity of 18.35 mg/g. Loading was endothermic (ΔH = +49.19 kJ/mol) yet spontaneous (ΔG = −2.10 kJ/mol), hence entropy-driven, consistent with mixed physical and coordinative binding of Zn2⁺ to carboxylate groups that governs zinc release. The nanocomposite gave inhibition zones of 24 ± 0.8 mm (S. aureus), 22 ± 0.6 mm (E. coli) and 25 ± 0.8 mm (A. niger) and 98.7 ± 1.1% wound closure by day 14. IC50 values against A172 were 94.97 (hydrogel) and 71.05 µg/mL (nanocomposite); IC50 ratios relative to WRL68 were 1.79 and 2.41. As WRL68 is HeLa-derived and ZnO may interfere with tetrazolium readouts, these values indicate a differential response, not tumour selectivity. Conclusion: The CH-g-P(AA-co-Am)/ZnO nanocomposite combines controlled zinc loading, antimicrobial activity and effective wound healing in one platform, supporting its potential as a multifunctional wound dressing.
SN - 1176-9114
SN - 1178-2013
ER -