Preparation and Evaluation of Hydrogel Wound Dressings Containing Polyvinyl Alcohol, Chitosan, Flax, and Zinc Particles for Chronic Wound Healing

Introduction and Objectives: This study aims to develop and evaluate hydrogel wound dressings based on polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, flax extract, and zinc microparticles to enhance mechanical and biological properties.Materials and Methods: Four groups of hydrogels containing different concentrations of zinc microparticles (0, 2, 5, and 10 wt. %) were fabricated. The structural properties were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties, including tensile strength and elongation at break, were assessed. Additionally, biodegradability and water absorption tests were conducted to evaluate the hydrogel's biological performance.Results: Phase analysis indicated a transition from an amorphous to a semi-crystalline structure with increasing zinc microparticle concentration. Microscopic images confirmed the uniform distribution of zinc particles within the hydrogel matrix. Mechanical testing revealed that hydrogels with 2% and 5% zinc exhibited optimal properties, achieving tensile strengths of 20 MPa and 12.8 MPa and elongations of 24.3% and 2.5%, respectively. However, aggregation of zinc particles at 10% concentration reduced mechanical performance. Biodegradability tests showed that after 30 days, the hydrogel containing 5% zinc retained about 45% of its weight, whereas the zinc-free sample was fully degraded. Additionally, water absorption capacity improved, with 2% and 5% zinc-containing hydrogels achieving maximum absorption levels of approximately 780% and 800%, respectively.Conclusion: The optimized hydrogel wound dressings, incorporating zinc microparticles and bioactive materials, demonstrated enhanced mechanical and biological properties, making them a promising candidate for chronic wound treatment.