<i>In vitro</i> evaluation of cellulose-gelatin film with silver nanoparticles and its particle size influences for wound dressing application

Biopolymer films have garnered interest as wound dressing materials. However, they lack antibacterial properties, which are essential for effective wound healing. To address this limitation, we created a cellulose-gelatin film impregnated with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). Spherical Ag-NPs were distributed on the cellulose-gelatin film’s surface. The concentration of silver nitrate as a primary source of Ag-NPs is essential to the nanoparticle size generated. From the data obtained, using a higher silver nitrate concentration resulted in AgNPs with a larger size distribution, as corroborated by a previous study. Interestingly, the size distribution of nanoparticles significantly affects the film’s antibacterial performance. The smallest has the strongest antibacterial properties against negative and positive gram bacteria. This study concluded that the right size Ag-NPs could find prospective application in the biomedical needs, particularly as a wound dressing.