SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PVA BASED SERICIN FILM FOR ANTIBACTERIAL WOUND DRESSING

Sericin is a globular protein obtained from degumming of silk cocoon in the silk reeling process. The sericin film was synthesized for the application of antibacterial wound dressing, but it has a low physical property, hence the synthetic polymer was used in the synthesis of highly stable biocompatible film. The PVA based sericin film was prepared by solvent casting method by the addition of synthetic polymers – polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to give the mechanical stability and the glycerol was added as a plasticizer. The characterization of PVA based sericin film for its antibacterial properties and the swelling ratio was evaluated. The PVA based sericin film showed significant antibacterial activity for wound pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and Proteus species and the swelling ratio of the film was 70% which indicates that the sericin has high moisture holding capacity which improves the wound healing process. The sericin film was also proved that it was biocompatible for biomedical applications.