Biologically-synthesised ZnO/CuO/Ag nanocomposite using propolis extract and coated on the gauze for wound healing applications

Abstract

Wound healing has long been recognised as a major clinical challenge for which stablishing more effective wound therapies is necessary. The generation of metallic nanocomposites using biological compounds is emerging as a new promising strategy for this purpose. In this study, four metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with propolis extract (Ext) and one without propolis including ZnO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext and ZnO/W were prepared by microwave method and assessed for their wound healing activity on excision experimental model of wounds in rats. The developed nanocomposites have been characterised by physico-chemical methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyses. The wounded animals treated with the NPs/Ext in five groups for 18 days. Every 6 days, for measuring wound closure rate, three samples of each group were examined for histopathological analysis. The prepared tissue sections were investigated by haematoxylin and Eosin stainings for the formation of epidermis, dermis and muscular and Masson's trichrome staining for the formation of collagen fibres. These findings toughly support the probability of using this new ZnO/Ag/Ext materials dressing for a wound care performance with significant effect compared to other NPs.

Fig. 1

Photo of bandages after deposition of nanocomposites and control

Fig. 2

XRD patterns of the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 3

SEM images of (a) ZnO/W, (b) ZnO/Ext, (c) ZnO/Ag/Ext, (d) ZnO/CuO/Ext, (e) ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext sample

Fig. 4

FTIR spectra for the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 5

TGA curves for the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 6

UV–vis DRS spectra of the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 7

Band gaps energy curves for the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 8

Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms of the ZnO/W, ZnO/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext and ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext samples

Fig. 9

Percentage of wound closure in control and treated groups *The significance difference with control (p  < 0/05). **The significance difference from all groups (p  < 0/05)

Fig. 10

Haematoxylin and eosin staining of the wound tissues on different days of post‐treatment

Fig. 11

Masson's trichrome staining of wound tissues on different days of post‐treatment