Production and Characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/Chitosan (CH) Wound Dressings Enriched with Hypericum perforatum extract

Abstract

Flexible, durable, and biocompatible wound dressing films with antibacterial and antioxidant properties were developed using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CH) blends enriched with Hypericum perforatum extracts. The films were fabricated using the solvent casting method with varying ratios of PVA (2% and 5%) and CH (1%), incorporating Hy-pericum perforatum extracts obtained at sol-id/liquid ratios of 1/10 and 1/20. The moisture content and uptake, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), total phenolic content, anti-oxidant capacity, and antibacterial activity were measured. Results demonstrated that the addition of plant extracts decreased the films' moisture content while higher PVA ratios increased moisture uptake. WVTR values ranged between 440 and 510 g/m²/day, indicating appropriate moisture reg-ulation for wound healing. Films containing plant extracts exhibited enhanced total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, with radical scavenging capacities up to 50%, highlighting their potential to reduce inflammation and accelerate wound recovery. Antibacterial tests against E. coli and S. aureus showed notable inhibition zones, confirming the films' effectiveness in preventing bacterial growth. The developed PVA/CH composite films demonstrate promising features such as advanced wound dressings with improved healing capabilities, combining moisture regulation, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties.

Keywords

• Wound dressing
• PVA
• chitosan
• Hypericum perforatum

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