Fabrication and Characterization of Crosslinked Carboxymethyl Cellulose Foam With Silver Nitrate for Antibacterial Applications

ABSTRACT This study develops and characterizes carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)‐based foams incorporating silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) and crosslinked with citric acid (CA). We investigated the effects of varying CA and AgNO 3 concentrations on foams' physical properties and antibacterial performance. Increasing CA concentration enhanced crosslinking density, which improved structural integrity but reduced liquid handling properties. The incorporation of AgNO 3 imparted antibacterial activity without significantly impacting liquid handling properties. Wet compressive strength slightly increases with higher AgNO 3 content, possibly due to the nanofiller effect of the formed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Silver release measurements show sustained antibacterial potential for 72 h. Notably, for the foam with the highest silver content, the maximum silver release was observed at 10.56 mg/L, a tenfold increase over the lowest. Antibacterial assays confirm concentration‐dependent activity: foams with 1.0 wt% AgNO 3 exhibited contact inhibition, while those with 2.0 wt% produced clear zones of inhibition. These results demonstrate the novelty of a one‐step, CA‐crosslinked CMC foam with in situ silver incorporation, which employs CA as a green crosslinking agent and enables uniform silver distribution. This eco‐friendly approach yields dressings with superior absorption, mechanical stability, and antibacterial activity, making them highly promising for safe and effective wound care applications.