Abstract Chronic wounds can result from various factors such as burns, skin cancer, infections, or underlying diseases like diabetes or butterfly wounds. These wounds require appropriate medical interventions. This study aims to assist in the healing process and maintain moisture in the wounds of such patients by creating hydrogel dressings made of polyvinyl alcohol/flax/chitosan/zinc microparticles containing 0%, 2%, 5%, and 10% by weight of zinc microparticles. To this end, a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan was first prepared, then flax extract was obtained from flax seeds and added to the mixture. Different percentages of zinc particles were added to the polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/flax mixture to prepare the dressings. X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the desired phases, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to identify the chemical functional groups in the hydrogel dressings. To examine the zinc particles in the dressings, elemental analysis mapping was also utilized. The tensile strength of the dressings was assessed to eva‎luate their mechanical properties. Additionally, biodegradability tests, water absorption tests, and pH change measurements were conducted to investigate the biological properties of the dressings. The results indicated that the dressing without zinc particles exhibited the highest tensile strength of 32.7 megapascals, which may be attributed to the proper dispersion of cellulose particles present in flax and polyvinyl alcohol as well as strong hydrogen bonding in chitosan that could enhance the tensile strength of the dressings; all dressings demonstrated good tensile strength. The sample with 2% by weight zinc particles showed good flexibility due to proper particle dispersion. Furthermore, with an increase in zinc particle content (10%), water absorption decreased while degradation time for the hydrogel dressings increased

نرگس جوهري

مهدي رفيعائي , احمد صيادي شهركي