Structural and antibacterial properties of Ag/GO wound dressing

Objective(s): Bioactive wound dressings are essential for preventing infection and accelerating tissue regeneration. Green synthesis offers a sustainable route for producing functional nanomaterials with reduced environmental impact.Materials and Methods: Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized using aqueous extract of Mentha pulegium as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The Ag NPs were combined with graphene oxide (GO) to form Ag/GO composite nanoparticles (CNPs), which were coated onto medical gauze via a simple, cost‑effective, and scalable immersion method. The products were characterized by X‑ray diffraction (XRD) and elemental mapping, and their antibacterial activities were evaluated against Gram‑positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‑negative Escherichia coli.Results: The synthesized Ag NPs had an average diameter of ~108 nm. XRD patterns revealed the (111) plane of face‑centered cubic Ag and the (002) plane of GO. Elemental analysis confirmed uniform Ag, C, and O distribution on the gauze surface. The Ag/GO‑coated gauze achieved > 99% reduction in bacterial colony counts compared to untreated controls.Conclusion: Ag/GO‑coated gauze demonstrates excellent antibacterial performance and strong potential as a bioactive wound dressing. This environmentally friendly, scalable approach could aid future developments in infection control and wound management.