Preparation and characterization of a gallium-loaded antimicrobial artificial dermal scaffold

Artificial dermal scaffolds, which are made of natural or synthetic materials, can improve new blood vessel formation, cell migration and cell proliferation after being implanted into wounds, and they degrade slowly, playing an important role in dermal reconstruction and scar inhibition, finally achieving the goal of wound healing and functional reconstruction. Although these scaffolds have been widely used in clinical applications, biomaterial-associated infection is a deficiency or even a life-threatening problem that must be addressed, as it greatly affects the survival of the scaffolds. The gallium ion (Ga³⁺) is a novel metallic antimicrobial whose broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties against most bacteria encountered in burn wound infections have been confirmed, and it has been proposed as a promising candidate to prevent implant-associated infections. In this study, a gallium-loaded antimicrobial artificial dermal scaffold was successfully prepared by gallium ions and a collagen solution. The characterization results showed a porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 50 to 150 μm and a large porosity value of 97.4%. The enzymatic degradation rate in vitro was 19 and 28% after 12 and 24 h, respectively. In vitro antimicrobial testing revealed that the 1 h antibacterial rate against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was close to 90%, which indicated its great antimicrobial activity. The results of the cytological evaluation showed slight effect on cell proliferation, with a relative growth rate (RGR) value of 80% and great cytocompatibility with cultured cells according to laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, the successful prevention of wound infections in SD rats was confirmed with an in vivo antimicrobial evaluation, and the artificial dermal scaffolds also demonstrated great biocompatibility. This gallium-loaded antimicrobial artificial dermal scaffold exerted excellent antimicrobial activity and great biosafety, warranting further research for future clinical applications.