Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Functionalized on Hydrogel Grafted Silk Fibroin Fabrics as Efficient Composite Dressing.

Recent advances in woundcare is targeted towards developing active-dressings, where multiple components are combined to provide a suitable environment for rapid healing. The aim of the present research is to study the preparation of biomimic composite wound dressings by the grafting of hydrogel on silk fibroin fabric. The swelling ability of hydrogel grafted silk fibroin fabric was optimized by changing the initiator concentration. In order to impart antimicrobial properties, these dressing are further coated sono-chemically with zinc oxide nanoparticles. The water vapor transmission rate of the prepared samples was measured. The conformation of silk fibroin proteins after grafting with hydrogel was also confirmed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology of the zinc oxide-coated silk fibroin fabric and hydrogel-coated silk fibroin was studied using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The antimicrobial activity of the zinc oxide-coated samples was studied against