Versatile poly(vinyl alcohol)/clay physical hydrogels with tailorable structure as potential candidates for wound healing applications.

Physical poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels containing up to 3% Laponite RD (LRD) were obtained by freezing/thawing method. The structure and the morphology of PVA/LRD hydrogels were evaluated by ATR-FTIR and SEM measurements, respectively. The morphological analysis of the hydrogels revealed the formation of clay agglomerates and large size aggregates at LRD concentrations above 2.5%. The rheological and mechanical properties of the PVA hydrogels in presence/absence of clay and their structural regeneration capacity after a large deformation were also investigated. The effect of LRD incorporation on the swelling behavior of the PVA hydrogels was discussed. The water vapor sorption capacity of PVA hydrogels decreases by clay addition. The analysis of in-vitro rifampicin release data indicated that the presence of a small amount of LRD into hydrogel affects the drug release mechanism. The antimicrobial activity of PVA hydrogels in presence/absence of LRD loaded with rifampicin against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans was studied.