Films of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sepiolite nanocomposite were prepared by a simple and “green” route through solution mixing; followed by freezing–thawing cycles. The structures of nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The SEM and TEM micrographs confirmed a needle-type dispersion of sepiolite nanoclay in the hydrogel nanocomposites. The effects of sepiolite and chitosan/PVA weight ratio on the swelling of nanocomposites were investigated. The water absorbency of nanocomposites was decreased by introducing sepiolite nanoclay. The nanocomposites with high content of chitosan showed high swelling capacity. The nanocomposite films showed pH-dependent swelling behavior with a maximum water absorbency under acidic pH. The cefazolin with a broad-spectrum activity toward gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was loaded in hydrogels. The release of cefazolin from nanocomposites was evaluated at pH 7.4. The content of released drug was affected by both sepiolite amount and chitosan/PVA weight ratio. The nanocomposites films released more cefazolin than the neat hydrogel film. Cefazolin-loaded nanocomposites showed the antibacterial activity with a large zone of inhibition against gram-positive Bacillus cereus bacterium.
