Fabrication of Antibacterial PVP/Keratin Hydrogel Embedded with Lavender Extract

Abstract

In this research, chicken feathers as the source of keratin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the synthetic polymer were used to produce composite hydrogel by UV irradiation. The results revealed that adding hydrogen peroxide accelerated the formation of crosslinking during the irradiation process. Swelling and mechanical analysis were performed on the produced samples with different formulations. To induce antibacterial properties to the hydrogel, herbal lavender extract was embedded in the hydrogels. The antimicrobial activity was finally assessed against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria and the incorporated hydrogels exhibited excellent antibacterial properties.