Synthesis of multifunctional bioresponsive polymers for the management of chronic wounds

Novel multifunctional bioresponsive gelatin and alginate based hydrogels with in-built antioxidant regenerating system and antimicrobial properties were successfully synthesized. These hydrogels are based on the versatile reactions catalyzed by cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH). CDH uses cellobiose and cello-oligosacharides as electron donors to reduce oxidized phenolic antioxidants, quinones, or molecular oxygen to H₂O₂ (a well-known antimicrobial agent). The antioxidant regenerating system consisting of CDH and cellobiose increased the ability of catechol to quench nitric oxide (NO), superoxide (O₂⁻) and hydroxyl radicals (OH•) in solution and when incorporated into hydrogels. The CDH loaded into the hydrogels free of oxidized phenolic antioxidants and quinones reduced molecular to H₂O₂ resulting in the complete inhibition of the growth of Stapylococcus aeureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli and Cellulomonasmicrobium cellulans. This study therefore presents a new concept for synthesizing multifunctional bioresponsive chronic wound dressing polymers with in-built continuous antioxidant system able to continuously quench [reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNOS)], and antimicrobial properties able to prevent microbial colonization of wound.