Development of Savlon Containing Polyvinyl Alcohol Based Cryogels as Potential Biomaterials for Burn Healing Applications

Abstract

Novel membranes of hydrogels were prepared by freeze-thaw method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and environmental scanning electron microscopy techniques. The FTIR spectra clearly reveal that savlon loaded poly (vinyl alcohol) cryogels are held together through hydrogen bonding. The scanning electron microscope analysis suggests that cryogels show a well-defined porous morphology. The cryogels were also studied for swelling and deswelling behaviors. The results show that the swelling and deswelling greatly depend on the factors such as chemical composition of the cryogels, number of freeze-thaw cycles, and pH and temperature of the swelling bath. The savlon loaded cryogels were also investigated for their in vitro blood compatibility and antibacterial activity.

Keywords:

• Antibacterial activity
• deswelling
• freeze-thaw
• hydrogel
• wound dressing