Efficient Synthesis and Characterization of Antibacterial Xanthan Gum-Based Self-Healing Hydrogels: Conventional Versus Microwave Treated

The development of self-healing hydrogels with mechanical integrity is vital for biomedical applications. This study synthesizes multi-network (MN) self-healing hydrogels using xanthan gum (XG) through conventional and microwave-assisted methods via free-radical polymerization. The synthesis materials included XG, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, sodium dodecyl sulfate, ferric chloride hexahydrate, and ammonium persulfate. Conventional synthesis took 60 min at 70 degrees C, while microwave synthesis was completed in 4.5 min at 540 W, enhancing energy and material efficiency. Structural tests like FTIR and SEM confirmed the results. Microwave synthesis produced a layered structure with smaller pores, leading to slower swelling kinetics, and EDX mapping showed higher Fe3+ ion concentrations, indicating better crosslinking. Thermal gravimetric analysis demonstrated that degradation onset temperatures were 184 degrees C for microwave-assisted synthesis XG hydrogel (MHXG) and 163 degrees C for the water bath XG hydrogel method (HXG), indicating a 20 degrees C enhancement due to the coherent structure induced by microwave treatment. Evaluation of self-healing capabilities through visual and rheological tests showed significant enhancements in MHXG, which exhibited a self-healing time of 2 h compared to 1 day required by HXG, attributed to increased crosslink density and hydrogen bonding facilitated by microwave treatment. Rheological assessments confirmed that both hydrogel types maintained their structural integrity and viscoelastic properties after healing. MHXG exhibited a mechanical strength of 21.12 kPa and elasticity of 10 kPa, whereas HXG showed 11.59 kPa and 1 kPa, respectively. Microwave-treated hydrogel showed enhanced antibacterial effectiveness against Staphylococcus aureus due to better distribution of agents in the matrix. This method for synthesizing XG-based self-healing hydrogels is promising for advanced biomedical applications.