Synthesis of biogenic silver nanoparticle-loaded porous chitosan/polycaprolactone scaffold for in vitro wound healing assessment

Polymer nanocomposites have garnered global attention for their significant potential as biomaterials for wound dressings. The present study aims to investigate the in vitro wound-healing potency of a biogenic silver nanoparticle-loaded chitosan/polycaprolactone (CS/PCL)- based scaffold by the scratch assay method. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesised from a medicinal plant, Hemigraphis alternata ( Murikootti ), via a green method. These nanoparticles were blended with the CS/PCL and used to fabricate a scaffold by the freeze-drying method. The characterisation of AgNPs and the fabricated scaffolds were carried out with the help of UV- Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which confirmed the formation of AgNPs and uniform distribution of AgNPs in the scaffolds. A comparative study of physicochemical properties was carried out among the fabricated scaffolds. The agar well diffusion method and time-kill assays were performed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cytocompatibility was explored using the MTT assay in L929 mouse fibroblast cell lines. CS-PCL-Ag2 (0.05w/v%) exhibited desirable tensile strength, WVTR, and porosity. Agar diffusion assays demonstrated formulation- and organism-dependent antibacterial activity, and it was non-toxic to fibroblast cells. The scratch assay revealed that CS-PCL-Ag2 (0.05w/v%) has substantial in vitro wound-healing potency and therefore represents a promising candidate for further evaluation as a wound-dressing material.