Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene with embedded WO₃/Te₂O₄ nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes to utilize as antibacterial and wound healing biomaterial‏

Wound dressing application based on polystyrene polymer incorporated with different oxides. Employing an array of physicochemical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The contact angle measurements underscore the dopants' influence on enhancing film hydrophilicity, notably with the WO₃/Te₂O₄/PS film displaying the highest wettability at 58.3° ± 3.9°. Biologically, these compositions prove safe, with cell viability measurements indicating their compatibility with human normal cells, even at higher concentrations (114.85 % at 2.4 μg/ml). The increase in refractive index from 1.67 (PS) to 2.21 (WO₃/Te₂O₄/PS) indicates modifications in the surface morphology of the film. Notably, varying pore sizes (0.17 μm and 0.61 μm) in WO3/PS can impact cell proliferation. Additionally, WO₃/Te₂O₄/CNT/PS exhibits remarkable swelling behavior (331.7 % ± 20.5 %) and impressively large inhibition zones measuring 16.5 mm ± 1.4 mm against E. coli and 13.1 mm ± 1.1 mm against S. aureus. These properties, including high absorption, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity, hold promise for advanced wound dressings.