Fabrication and Characterization of a Stretchable Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Patch Combined with Silicon Nitride and Metalized Halloysite Nanotubes to Develop a Chronic Wound Healing Treatment

This study reports the development of a stretchable sodium alginate–based nanocomposite hydrogel patch incorporating silicon nitride and metalized halloysite nanotubes for chronic wound healing applications. The composite hydrogels were evaluated for morphology, porosity, swelling behavior, wettability, mechanical performance, antibacterial activity, controlled drug release, and in vitro fibroblast response. Results demonstrated enhanced tensile strength, high swelling capacity, sustained gentamicin release, strong antibacterial efficacy against common wound pathogens, and improved fibroblast proliferation and migration, supporting the hydrogel’s potential as a mechanically robust, multifunctional wound dressing.