Keywords
PVA/Borax hydrogels; wound healing; bioactive additives; biocompatibility; rheology; naturally derived therapies
Abstract
Wounds requiring medical intervention remain a global healthcare challenge. In the United States alone, they affect 6.5 million people each year, resulting in costly healthcare expenditures of $25 million USD1. These wounds and their frequent complications strain the healthcare system not only through high treatment costs, but also by prolonging hospitalization and increasing the risk of spreading nosocomial infections to other individuals on site. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a common root cause of these infections, have been reported to hinder wound healing in many patients2. Dressings are the most common treatment for both infected and noninfected wounds, and there are several categories: traditional, modern, medicated, and controlled drug-delivery dressings. However, these treatments have drawbacks that limit their efficacy, including ineffective fluid absorption, difficulties with application, loss of rheological characteristics and moisture at the wound site, and cytotoxicity associated with antibiotic dosing. Alternative medical practices such as homeopathy, naturopathy, and Ayurveda have been utilized for centuries. In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has experienced a resurgence in popularity for purported anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and antioxidant properties3. The proposed research examines whether CAM can improve wound-healing prognosis by investigating whether bioactive additives can be incorporated into wound dressings as a viable alternative to conventional wound care treatments.
This research focuses on synthesizing PVA/Borax hydrogels enhanced with bioactive additives and characterizing their structural and mechanical properties through rheological and SEM analysis. Comparative analyses of hydrogels with and without additives will elucidate how these bioactive compounds affect gel durability and self-healing ability. These hydrogels, structured as cross-linked polymer networks with high water content, promise to address wound care needs through ease of self-application while maintaining mechanical and structural integrity suitable for clinical use.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Kausik Mukhopadhyay
College
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Thesis Discipline
Materials Science and Engineering
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Iyengar, Disha, "PVA/Borax-Based Hydrogels with Bioactive Additives for Wound Healing Applications" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 501.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/501
Included in
Alternative and Complementary Medicine Commons, Biology and Biomimetic Materials Commons, Therapeutics Commons
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