Silver Nanowire-Coated\nPorous Alginate Films for Wound\nDressing Applications: Antibacterial Activity, Cell Proliferation,\nand Physical Characterization

In the present study, porous calcium alginate films have\nbeen developed\nby the addition of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.5% (w/v) PVA to sodium alginate\nfilm solutionss. Poly(vinyl) alcohol played the role of a pore-forming\nagent for calcium alginate films, and the controlled pore sizes of\nthe films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier\ntransform infrared spectroscopy analyses. Human fibroblast cell attachment\nwas performed on the porous calcium alginate films (0.5-Ca-Alg), and\nthen the film was coated with 1 and 3 wt % silver nanowires. Cell\nproliferation was enhanced on films after the coating of the silver\nnanowires. The MTT assay was performed on the calcium alginate films\nand silver nanowire-coated films, and the films were found to be nontoxic\nto human foreskin fibroblast cells at the end of 72 h of exposure.\nThe existence of silver nanowires on the porous calcium alginate film\nendowed the material with good antibacterial activity. The swelling\nability of the porous and silver nanowire-coated film (0.5-Ca-Alg-1/AgNW)\nincreased by ∼64% in simulated body fluid (pH = 7.4) and distilled\nwater compared to a nonporous film (Ca-Alg). The water vapor transmission\nrate of Ca-Alg was ∼45% enhanced thanks to the porosity of\nfilms and the existence of AgNW. Hereby, it is demonstrated that the\nnovel silver nanowire-doped porous alginate materials would be potential\nwound dressing agents with desired physical properties, antibacterial\nactivity, and availability to cell proliferation.