A comprehensive review of the polymer-based hydrogels with electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles for wound dressing applications

Modernization and improvement of wound dressing materials is an important topic in biomaterials and biomedicine fields, as the traditional materials are inadequate and susceptible to bacterial infections. In recent times, polymer-based hydrogel materials have presented themselves as excellent candidates for new-generation wound dressings with improved properties, such as high sorption ability, good mechanical properties, and low adhesiveness. Additionally, cross linked hydrogel matrices serve as excellent carriers for controlled release of antibacterial agents, such as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which are preferred over conventional antibiotics due to multi-phase mechanism of action and low susceptibility to induce bacterial resistance. Their incorporation inside polymer matrices allows improvement of wound dressing properties and sustained protection against bacterial infection. Electrochemical methods for AgNPs synthesis are facile and green alternatives to chemical routes, allowing the formation of highly stable AgNPs with strong antibacterial effect. In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the existing research on the topic of electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles incorporated in polymer matrices with a special focus on the chitosan-based hydrogels as prospective materials for wound dressing applications.