Nontoxic pH-sensitive silver nanocomposite hydrogels for potential wound healing applications

Recent advances of silver nanoparticle-based polymer nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Silver nanoparticle-polymer nanocomposites (AgNP-PNCs) represent a transformative advancement in biomedical material science, integrating the potent antimicrobial properties of AgNPs with the structural versatility of polymer matrices. This synergy enables enhanced infection control, mechanical stability, and controlled drug delivery, making these nanocomposites highly suitable for applications such as wound healing, medical coatings, tissue engineering, and biosensors. Recent progress in synthesis and functionalization has led to greater control over particle morphology, dispersion, and stability, optimizing AgNP-PNCs for clinical and translational applications. However, challenges related to cytotoxicity, long-term stability, immune response, and scalability persist, necessitating systematic improvements in surface functionalization, hybridization strategies, and biocompatibility assessments. This review critically evaluates the latest advancements in AgNP-PNC development, focusing on their functionalization techniques, regulatory considerations, and emerging strategies to overcome biomedical challenges. Additionally, it discusses preclinical and translational aspects, including commercialization barriers and regulatory frameworks such as FDA and EMA guidelines, ensuring a comprehensive outlook on their clinical feasibility. By bridging the gap between innovation and practical application, this review investigates the transformative potential of AgNP-PNCs in advancing next-generation biomedical materials.

Advancements of Biomacromolecular Hydrogel Applications in Food Nutrition and Health

Hydrogels exhibit remarkable degradability, biocompatibility and functionality, which position them as highly promising materials for applications within the food and pharmaceutical industries. Although many relevant studies on hydrogels have been reported in the chemical industry, materials, and other fields, there have been few reviews on their potential applications in food nutrition and human health. This study aims to address this gap by reviewing the functional properties of hydrogels and assessing their value in terms of food nutrition and human health. The use of hydrogels in preserving bioactive ingredients, food packaging and food distribution is delved into specifically in this review. Hydrogels can serve as cutting-edge materials for food packaging and delivery, ensuring the preservation of nutritional activity within food products, facilitating targeted delivery of bioactive compounds and regulating the digestion and absorption processes in the human body, thereby promoting human health. Moreover, hydrogels find applications in in vitro cell and tissue culture, human tissue repair, as well as chronic disease prevention and treatment. These broad applications have attracted great attention in the fields of human food nutrition and health. Ultimately, this paper serves as a valuable reference for further utilization and exploration of hydrogels in these respective fields.

Exploring the potential of pH-sensitive polymers in targeted drug delivery

The pH-sensitive polymers have attained significant attention in the arena of targeted drug delivery (TDD) because of their exceptional capability to respond to alteration in pH in various physiological environments. This attribute aids pH-sensitive polymers to act as smart carriers for therapeutic agents, transporting them precisely to target locations while curtailing the release of drugs in off-targeted sites, thereby diminishing side effects. Many pH-responsive polymers in TDD have revealed promising results, with increased therapeutic efficacy and decreased toxic effects. Several pH-sensitive polymers, including, hydroxy-propyl-methyl cellulose, poly (methacrylic acid) (Eudragit series), poly (acrylic acid), and chitosan, have been broadly studied for their myriad applications in the management of various types of diseases. Additionally, the amalgamation of pH-sensitive polymers with, additive manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, has resulted in the progression of novel drug delivery systems that regulate drug release in a controlled manner. Herein, types of pH-sensitive polymers in TDD are systemically reviewed. We have briefly discussed the nanocarriers employed for the delivery of various pH-sensitive polymers in TDD. Finally, miscellaneous applications of pH-sensitive polymers are discussed thoroughly with special attention to the implication of 3D printing in pH-sensitive polymers.

Thermal, morphology and bacterial analysis of pH-responsive sodium carboxyl methylcellulose/ fumaric acid/ acrylamide nanocomposite hydrogels: Synthesis and characterization

In this present investigation, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose grafted with Fumaric acid/Acrylamide (CMC/FA/AAm=CFA) hydrogel and their silver nanocomposite hydrogels (CFA-Ag x, x = 5, 10 and 20) were developed by simple, cost effective and ecofriendly greener method. Mint leaf extract was used as an efficient natural reducing agent due to presence of active and antioxidant potential of polyphenol and flavonoid components. Swelling equilibrium of CFA hydrogel showed Seq% 3000 both in pH medium and distilled water. CFA (90:10) hydrogel has been produced greater than Seq% 6000. The synthesized CFA (90:10)-Ag-5, CFA (90:10)-Ag-10 and CFA (90:10)-Ag-20 nanocomposite hydrogels have been observed lower Seq% 2000-3000 than the CFA hydrogel. The homogeneous distribution of AgNPs throughout the CFA hydrogel and nanocomposites has been explored by SEM analysis. The interaction of network heteroatoms with AgNPs has been strongly revealed by the FTIR spectra and XRD analysis. The thermal stability of CFA (90:10)-Ag-5, 10, and 20 nanocomposite hydrogels have showed greater stability than CFA hydrogel which is confirmed by TGA/DSC thermogram analysis. The TEM analysis was used to explore a uniform distribution of spherical AgNPs (10 nm-50 nm) embedded on the CFA composite hydrogel. The CFA (90:10)-Ag-20 nanocomposite hydrogel has showed good antibacterial activity beside E. coli (Gram positive) and S. aureus (Gram negative) pathogens. Based on the antibacterial activity and swelling properties of CFA-Ag nanocomposite hydrogels have the ability to accelerate the antibacterial activity and are potential candidates for medical and environmental applications.

Antibacterial smart hydrogels: New hope for infectious wound management

Millions of people die annually due to uncured wound infections. Healthcare systems incur high costs to treat wound infections. Tt is predicted to become more challenging due to the rise of multidrug-resistant conditions. During the last decades, smart antibacterial hydrogels could attract attention as a promising solution, especially for skin wound infections. These antibacterial hydrogels are termed 'smart' due to their response to specific physical and chemical environmental stimuli. To deliver different drugs to particular sites in a controlled manner, various types of crosslinking strategies are used in the manufacturing process. Smart hydrogels are designed to provide antimicrobial agents to the infected sites or are built from polymers with inherent disinfectant properties. This paper aims to critically review recent pre-clinical and clinical advances in using smart hydrogels against skin wound infections and propose the next best thing for future trends. For this purpose, an introduction to skin wound healing and disease is presented and intelligent hydrogels responding to different stimuli are introduced. Finally, the most promising investigations are discussed in their related sections. These studies can pave the way for producing new biomaterials with clinical applications.