NUST Institutions Library Catalogue

The development and evaluation of an advanced nanocarrier hydrogel system designed to address
the major barriers in diabetic wound healing, specifically targeting chronic inflammation,
oxidative stress, bacterial infection, and impaired angiogenesis. This therapeutic system integrates
cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and a chitosan-gelatin
hydrogel platform to create a multifunctional wound dressing. CeO₂ nanoparticles provide strong
antioxidant and antibacterial activity, MOFs enable controlled drug release and add antimicrobial
properties, while the chitosan-gelatin hydrogel ensures biocompatibility, moisture retention, and
accelerated tissue repair. Comprehensive characterization, including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR,
UV-Vis, EDX analysis, and optical microscopy, confirmed successful synthesis, structural
integrity, and the presence of desired functional groups. Biological assays demonstrated superior
antibacterial and antibiofilm performance of the CeZn-Gel composite against E. coli and S. aureus,
surpassing individual system components and controls. The integrated approach not only enhances
wound healing outcomes but also reduces infection and inflammation, with significant potential
for improving patient quality of life in chronic wound care. Future work will focus on optimizing
formulation and advancing toward clinical testing for broader therapeutic impact.