Exploring the Potential of ZnO/Ag/Ag2O@ chitosan Nanocomposite in Antibacterial Activity, Angiogenesis and Wound Repair

Abstract

Clinical medicine continues to face significant challenges due to the advent of multidrug resistant infections and delayed wound healing, leading to the need for the creation of multifunctional biomaterials with regenerative and antimicrobial qualities. A novel ZnO/Ag/Ag2O@chitosan nanocomposite was created in this study by co-precipitation, and its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties were assessed. Comprehensive characterization methods including FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis indicated that a structurally stable nanocomposite with desired morphological and elemental properties had been successfully formed. Agar well diffusion and time dependent optical density measurements were used to evaluate the antibacterial potential against therapeutically relevant strains of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The nanocomposite demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, with noticeably larger zones of inhibition comparable to standard antibiotics. Studies on in vivo wound healing in a mouse excision model showed that the treatment group's wound contraction and tissue regeneration were faster than those of the positive and negative controls. Histopathological analysis showed neovascularization, re-epithelialization, and well-organized dermal architecture. The ZnO, Ag, and Ag2O synergy of the chitosan matrix enhanced tissue healing, bacterial membrane disruption, and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound healing characteristics when combined, these findings suggest that ZnO/Ag/Ag2O@chitosan nanocomposite is a suitable candidate for biomedical purposes, particularly in the treatment of infected wounds.