Oxygen-generating and antibacterial xanthan gum/PLA aerogels loaded with dexamethasone for potential wound healing

Chronic wounds do not heal within a reasonable time frame due to hypoxia and bacterial inflammation, creating an urgent need for advanced biomaterials to address these challenges. In this study, oxygen-generating, antibacterial xanthan gum-polylactic acid (XA/PLA) aerogels loaded with dexamethasone were developed for the first time for potential wound healing applications. The aerogels contained sodium percarbonate and calcium peroxide as oxygen-releasing agents, providing sustained oxygen release for up to 48 h. The aerogels had a highly porous structure with a high specific surface area (up to 396 ± 8 m²/g) and revealed high liquid absorption capacity in simulated body fluid, absorbing up to 67 times their original weight and remaining stable for 72 h. The in vitro release tests showed controlled profiles of dexamethasone over 24 h. The antibacterial tests demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (an up to 15.92 mm inhibition zone diameter) and Staphylococcus aureus (up to a 31.07 mm inhibition zone diameter). The in vitro biocompatibility assays revealed good cytocompatibility with mouse fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3), with a cell viability of >90%. Hemocompatibility tests showed no hemolytic activity with human blood (lysis rate <2%). Overall, these results emphasise the versatility of the XA/PLA aerogels and their potential for the treatment of chronic wounds.