Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from novel Bischofia javanica plant loaded chitosan hydrogel: as antimicrobial and wound healing agent

Antibiotic therapeutic’s effectiveness is eroding over time because of widespread bacterial antimicrobial resistance, posing a threat to human and animal health. Different medicines are in use to control the pathogens, spreading different diseases and becoming drug resistant, which is a major global health problem nowadays. To control drug-resistant pathogens, the implementation of a new antimicrobial strategy (specially nanotechnology) is becoming an inevitable choice, providing effective, environment-friendly, and cost-effective antibiotics. In our study, we used natural, biocompatible, biodegradable, angiogenic polymer, chitosan, based hydrogels to carry biosynthesized highly antimicrobial silver nanoparticles, from novel plant extract Bischofia javanoca, for infection control along with fast wound healing activity. These nanoparticles were characterized through TEM and FTIR. TEM exhibited spherical-shaped nanoparticles within effective size range from 4 to 12 nm. In vitro studies of silver nanoparticles, to analyze antimicrobial efficiency, showed effective results with different concentrations of silver nanoparticles, against various microbes including bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae) and fungi (Candida albicans). Moreover, nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels were evaluated for infection control and angiogenic potential in full thickness infectious wound rat model and found effective against bacterial infection and fast wound healing was observed with no scar formation. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].