3rd TAGRA

Chronic wounds, due to infection and biofilm formation, are among the major challenges in wound care. The combination of chitosan, silver nanoparticles, and bioactive compounds of thyme may provide a suitable approach for developing an antimicrobial wound dressing. This study aimed to synthesize and evaluate the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of a polymeric wound dressing containing chitosan, silver nanoparticles, and thyme essential oil. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized, and the wound dressing was prepared. The physicochemical characteristics of the samples were evaluated using XRD, FTIR, EDS, FESEM, DLS, and BET. The antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis was assessed using MIC, MBC, and AATCC 100 assays. The XRD pattern showed a phase consistent with Ag₂O, with a crystallite size of 26 nm. FTIR analysis revealed the functional groups of chitosan and the Ag–O bond. The silver content determined by EDS was 19.99 wt%. FESEM analysis showed a rough, layered surface with small pores. The average particle size determined by DLS was approximately 165 nm, with a Z-average of 211.8 nm and a PDI of 0.701. The zeta potential was −48.5 mV, and the BET specific surface area was 2.36 m²/g. The MIC and MBC results demonstrated inhibitory and bactericidal activities of the samples. According to the AATCC 100 test, the reductions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis were 100%, while the reductions in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 99.67% and 6.25%, respectively. The prepared wound dressing demonstrated suitable physicochemical properties and considerable antimicrobial activity and may be a potential candidate for antimicrobial applications in wound dressings.