Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel matrix-based wound dressing systems containing nitrofurazone (NFZ), a topical anti-infective drug, were developed using freeze-thawing method. Aqueous solutions of nitrofurazone and PVA/SA mixtures in different weight ratios were mixed homogeneously, placed in petri dishes, freezed at -20 °C for 18 h and thawed at room temperature for 6 h, for three consecutive cycles, and evaluated for swelling ratio, tensile strength, elongation and thermal stability of the hydrogel. Furthermore, the drug release from this nitrofurazone-loaded hydrogel, in vitro protein adsorption test and in vivo wound healing observations in rats were performed. Increased SA concentration decreased the gelation%, maximum strength and break elongation, but it resulted into an increment in the swelling ability, elasticity and thermal stability of hydrogel film. However, SA had insignificant effect on the release of nitrofurazone. The amounts of proteins adsorbed on hydrogel were increased with increasing sodium alginate ratio, indicating the reduced blood compatibility. In vivo experiments showed that this hydrogel improved the healing rate of artificial wounds in rats. Thus, PVA/SA hydrogel matrix based wound dressing systems containing nitrofurazone could be a novel approach in wound care.

Keywords : Nitrofurazone; Sodium alginate; Polyvinyl alcohol; Hydrogel; Wound dressing