Design and biological evaluation of antimicrobial PVA/AgNP/zeolite electrospun nanofiber wound dressings

The skin serves as a primary barrier against external threats, and inadequate wound management can delay healing and promote the transition of acute injuries into chronic, hard‑to‑treat conditions. Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of multifunctional wound dressings that combine biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, and regenerative potential. In this study, the wound healing potential of electrospun nanofiber dressings with enhanced functional properties was investigated. The designed wound dressing consisted of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanofibers incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an average size of approximately 50 nm and zeolite (Zeo). Structural and chemical characterization of the nanofiber mats was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antibacterial activity of the nanofibers was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the disk diffusion method. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that the nanofiber dressings were non-toxic to human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Furthermore, in vitro scratch assay revealed complete wound closure within 48 h in treated cells, indicating enhanced cellular migration. The in vivo wound healing efficacy of the nanofiber dressings was evaluated using Wistar albino rats excisional wound model. Full-thickness dorsal wounds treated with AgNP/zeolite-loaded nanofiber dressings exhibited a wound closure rate of approximately 96% by day 14. Histopathological evaluation using hematoxylin-eosin(H&E) staining confirmed enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration. Overall, these findings suggest that nanofiber wound dressings formulated with nanoscale materials represent a promising and effective alternative to conventional wound dressings, particularly for the therapeutic management of injuries associated with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear(CBRN) incidents.