Chitosan-based hydrogel wound dressings with electrochemically incorporated silver nanoparticles – In vitro study

[Display omitted] •AgNPs were synthesized electrochemically in poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan hydrogels.•AgNPs were smaller than 10 nm, which enhanced their antibacterial activity.•Non-cytotoxicity of AgNPs-containing hydrogels was confirmed by MTT test.•Nanocomposite hydrogels could be used as wound dressing materials. In this work, we provide a facile path for the preparation of wound dressing materials with improved characteristics based on biocompatible chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels with embedded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a potent antimicrobial agent. The hydrogels were prepared via freezing-thawing method, whereas AgNPs were synthesized via an in situ electrochemical route. The excellent physicochemical properties of the obtained nanocomposite hydrogels were validated using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The formation of sub-10 nm AgNPs was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Swelling and silver release profiles were validated using several diffusion models. The hydrogels were proven to be non-cytotoxic using MTT test and possessed powerful antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as determined by test in suspension, which affirmed their feasibility for wound dressing applications.