Electroconductive Silk Fibroin–Tannin Hydrogel from Agri-Waste Achieves Near-Antibiotic Efficacy and Accelerated Wound Closure via Mild DC Stimulation
Keywords:
hydrogel, silk fibroin, tannin, wound healing, electrical stimulationAbstract
Infected chronic wounds pose a major clinical burden, particularly in diabetic and elderly patients. This study developed a prototype conductive hydrogel composed of silk fibroin extracted from waste cocoons, tannin from Terminalia catappa leaves, gelatin, and graphite powder (0.5–1% w/v), stimulated at 1.5 V DC. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) via disc diffusion. Material properties, wound closure (Gelatin Scratch Model), and preliminary cytotoxicity (Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay, BSLA) were also evaluated. The electrically stimulated formulation (T3) achieved a zone of inhibition of 35.6 ± 1.8 mm against S. aureus, 85.2% wound closure at 72 h, electrical resistance of 250 Ω, and BSLA mortality of 7.7% (non-toxic threshold <10%). These results
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