Integration of Phytogenic Ag/Fe ₃ O ₄ NPs Into Cross‐Linked Sodium Alginate Hydrogels With Enhanced Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Wound Healing Properties

In different studies, development of wound healing dressings have been focused to deal with different challenges associated with wound management and bacterial growth problems. In this research work, bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) have been synthesized via green route using extract of Mimusops elengi (ME) leaves. These green synthesized NPs (Ag/Fe 3 O 4 ) were introduced in‐situ cross‐linked copolymerization of sodium alginate (SALG) with methylene bis‐acrylamide (MBA) and acrylamide. Samples of BMNPs loaded hydrogel (SALG/Ag/Fe 3 O 4 ) were studied for antioxidant potential in terms of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging potential. Antimicrobial activity using different gram +ive and gram −ive bacterial strains was also studied. BMNPs loaded gel samples have shown the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 32.25 nm against M. luteus and its antifungal activity was recorded up to 42.25 ± 0.61 mm. In‐vivo wound healing studies were also performed and samples of SALG hydrogel and Ag/Fe 3 O 4 /SALG (AFS) came up with promising wound healing potential with 96% and 100 % recover of wounds in 21 days. In addition, in‐vitro degradation, percent swelling (SW), hemolysis behaviors of both the gels were remarkable. The current study revealed that the incorporation of bimetallic nanoparticles within hydrogel structure can be helpful in accelerating wound healing process by avoiding problems associated with free radicals and bacterial growth.