Dual-Functional Dextran-PEG Hydrogel as an Antimicrobial Biomedical Material

Microbial infections continually present a major worldwide public healthcare threat, particularly in instances of impaired wound healing and biomedical implant fouling. The development of new materials with the desired antimicrobial property to avoid and treat wound infection is urgently needed in wound care management. This study reports a novel dual-functional biodegradable dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel covalently conjugated with antibacterial Polymyxin B and Vancomycin (Vanco). The hydrogel is designed as a specialized wound dressing that eradicates existing bacteria and inhibits further bacteria growth, while, ameliorating the side effects of antibiotics and accelerating tissue repair and regeneration. The hydrogel exhibits potent antibacterial activities against both gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with no observable toxicity to mouse fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3. These results demonstrate the immense potential of dextran-PEG hydrogel as a wound dressing healthcare material in efficiently controlling bacteria growth in complex biological systems.