Preparation and Properties of Antimicrobial Hydrogel Dressing

Starch grafted oligoguanidine (Starch-g-PHMG) was synthesized using glycol diglycidyl ether as the coupling agent. Antimicrobial hydrogel dressing (AHD) was further prepared by blending Starch-g-PHMG with acrylic acid grafted starch. The molecular structures, physical and chemical properties of the prepared AHD were characterized via Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), element analysis, fluid absorbency tests, and antimicrobial tests. Results showed that the maximum grafting efficiency (37.5%) could be achieved at the optimal reaction conditions as following: 3 h of reaction time at 60 °C and w(NaOH) = 0.4%. The fluid absorbency of AHD decreased with the increasing of Starch-g-PHMG content. The growth inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus reached 100% when w (PHMG) > 0.33%.