Scalable and Versatile Metal Ion Solidificated Alginate Hydrogel for Skin Wound Infection Therapy
Haomiao Zhang1, Ye Lu2, Lei Huang1
1State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Applications for Batteries of Zhejiang Province, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|March 14, 2024
Summary
Novel metal-alginate hydrogels effectively treat infected wounds. Copper-alginate hydrogels show potent antibacterial activity against resistant strains, promoting wound healing with low toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Wound Healing Research
- Infectious Disease Management
Background:
- Bacterial wound infections pose a significant global health challenge.
- Existing treatments face limitations in efficacy and resistance development.
- Advanced wound care solutions are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel, versatile metal-alginate (M-Alg) hydrogels for infected wound management.
- To investigate the antibacterial properties and wound healing potential of these M-Alg hydrogels.
- To evaluate the efficacy of copper-alginate (Cu-Alg) hydrogels against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Sodium alginate (SA) was solidified with various metal ions (Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) to form M-Alg hydrogels.
- The morphology, composition, and microstructure of the hydrogels were adjusted.
- The antibacterial efficacy of Cu-Alg against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including MRSA and CRKP, was assessed.
- Cytotoxicity and biodegradability were evaluated.
Main Results:
- M-Alg hydrogels demonstrated adjustable properties and conformed to wound sites.
- Cu-Alg hydrogels exhibited excellent sterilization effects against a broad spectrum of bacteria.
- Dual antibacterial mechanisms (contact-killing and ROS burst) were identified for Cu-Alg.
- Low cytotoxicity and good biodegradability were observed for the developed hydrogels.
Conclusions:
- Metal-alginate hydrogels offer a promising platform for treating infected wounds.
- Cu-Alg hydrogels present a cost-effective and innovative approach for managing challenging wound infections.
- This technology has the potential to significantly advance wound care practices globally.
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