Potential Wound Dressing with Antibacterial Effect from Cross‐Linked Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sodium Caseinate/CuO NP Electrospun Mat

Abstract In this study, nanofibers were produced from Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Sodium Caseinate (SoCAS)/Copper Oxide nanoparticle (CuO NP) mixtures by electrospinning method. Nano surfaces were cross‐linked by immersion in a Glutaraldehyde (GLA) bath. Electrospun mats are designed as modern wound dressings with antibacterial effects for exuding wounds. The cross‐linking process by dipping has thickened a bit of nanofiber diameter by creating a coating effect on fiber surface. The increase of acetal bonds and decrease of hydroxyl groups in structure by cross‐linking have improved thermal properties of nanofibers. The increase in melting enthalpy has also improved mechanical properties of mats. The mixture of semicrystalline PVA and SoCAS has increased breaking stress of nanostructure. Besides, the CuO NP additive improved the breaking strength and elongation behavior of mats. It was stated that cross‐linked nanofibers swelled without dissolving in distilled water and contained water‐repellent groups. The CuO NP supplementation delayed the growth of Escherichia coli ( E. coli) . However, it was observed that antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) was higher than against E. coli . It was reported that 5 % CuO NP‐doped nanofiber can be used as a wound dressing, owing to its high fibroblast cell viability at 24 th and 48 th hours and 99.48 % antibacterial activity against S. aureus .