Synthesis and characterization of antibacterial carboxymethyl Chitosan/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogels

The antibacterial carboxymethyl chitosan/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogels were successfully prepared via in situ formation of ZnO nanorods in the crosslinked carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) matrix, by treating the CMCh hydrogel matrix with zinc nitrate solution followed by the oxidation of zinc ions with alkaline solution. The resulting CMCh/ZnO hydrogels were characterized by using FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractormetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM micrographs revealed the formation of ZnO nanorods in the hydrogel matrix with the size ranging from 190 nm to 600 nm. The swelling behavior of the prepared nanocomposite hydrogels was also investigated in different pH solutions. The CMCh/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel showed rather higher swelling behavior in different pH solutions in comparison with neat CMCh hydrogel. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of CMCh/ZnO hydrogel was studied against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by CFU assay. The results demonstrated an excellent antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite hydrogel. Therefore, the developed CMCh/ZnO nanocomposite hydrogel can be used effectively in biomedical field.