Antimicrobial activity enhancement of PVA/chitosan films with the additive of CZTS quantum dots

The wound environment is a breeding ground for pathogens, and traditional wound dressing materials lack antibacterial properties. In this work, we aimed to develop PVA/chitosan (P/C)-based wound dressing scaffolds with anti-infective properties using Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 quantum dots (CZTS QDs) to prevent infections in the wound. CZTS quantum dots were prepared by a simple hydrothermal process and characterized using appropriate techniques such as TEM, XRD, FTIR spectrum, and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. CZTS QDs were subsequently loaded at different concentrations onto PVA/chitosan membranes (0, 1.6, 2.5 and 3.3% w/w, based on the total polymer quantity). The chemical structure, contact angle and mechanical properties of the membranes were analyzed, and their antimicrobial activities and cell viability were also investigated. The cytocompatibility of the membranes and cell morphology was investigated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and SEM. Based on studies on the interactions between membranes and cells, it was determined that incorporation of CZTS QDs into the membrane did not cause toxicity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on loading CZTS QDs into membranes for tissue engineering applications, and the overall findings suggest that CZTS QDs-integrated membranes might have potentially appealing uses as antimicrobial films for wound healing.