Engineered bioactive glass-chitosan hybrid for dual tissue and bone regeneration multifunctional healing

The treatment of complex wounds, particularly those arising from conditions such as diabetes or trauma, presents a significant clinical challenge. These wounds often necessitate long-term care for soft tissue and bone repair, creating an urgent need for multifunctional wound dressings. This study introduces a chitosan-silica hybrid dressing enhanced with bioactive glass (BG), specifically designed to address this need. The hybrid material achieves molecular bonding through coupling agents, with the organic chitosan component providing swelling and hemostatic effects, while the inorganic silica and BG release ions (Si⁴⁺, Ca²⁺), promoting tissue regeneration and bone healing. With a controlled degradation profile (lasting 3 to 6 months in-vitro), the dressing is ideal for chronic wound management. Experimental results demonstrate excellent biocompatibility, no inflammatory response, and strong hemostatic properties due to the positively charged chitosan and cations. Adding BG significantly enhances bone regeneration, positioning this chitosan-silica hybrid as a promising solution for the simultaneous repair of soft tissue and bone.