Synthesis and characterization of starch-based hydrogels containing myrtus oil nanoemulsion for wound dressings

Every year, many people around the world need to be treated for burn injuries. Chronic burn wounds place an immense burden on patients and healthcare facilities. Many studies have been done regarding healing of burn wounds yet the need of developing smart wound dressings with the ability to accelerate wound healing is deeply exists. So, in this study, starch-based hydrogels loaded with antibacterial myrtle oil nanoemulsion were synthesized via grafting acrylamide and acrylic acid onto starch through free-radical polymerization. Covalent crosslinking led to a stable three-dimensional structure with appropriate water vapor transmission rate (2560 g/m 2 /day) and slow-release rate with 0.3 starch (20% drug release for 8 h). Antibacterial test results against E. coli , MRSA , and C. albicans showed that the hydrogels can effectively prevent growth of the bacteria. Cytotoxicity test revealed nontoxicity of the hydrogels. In vivo test on rats showed very good healing ability (almost complete healing in 14 days). It can be concluded that starch-based hydrogels can be considered as a novel candidate for burn wound dressings and/or biomedical applications.