Next, we evaluated the hydrogels' antibacterial efficacy by exposing their surfaces to bacterial suspension. 100 µL of gels at different concentrations (8%, 12.5% and 17.5%), without and with loaded vancomycin, were prepared in the wells of a 96-well plate and then challenged with bacteria (5 µL K-12 E. coli culture, 100 µL LB, starting OD600 was 0.01). Hydrogels loaded with vancomycin showed an effective antibacterial activity against E. coli after 6 h. Hydrogels acting as a topical cover over an infected wound should also prevent the penetration of further bacteria and act as a block to any bacterial propagation. Hence, a hydrogel-coated Transwell™ model with a pore size of 3 µm (large enough for E. coli to pass through) was placed on top of the wells of a 24-well plate, and the bacterial solution was then placed on top of the hydrogels. We tested hydrogels with concentrations of 8 and 17.5%, both empty and loaded with vancomycin. We then grew CFUs from the media from the bottom of the well and calculated CFUs/mL. We observed that bacterial penetration was blocked regardless of the component's concentration or the presence of vancomycin (Figure ).