Resveratrol-loaded engineered microcapsules with dual antimicrobial and ROS-scavenging for programmed wound healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Hydrogel microparticles are effective for skin wound repair.
• Controlled release of bioactive substances from microstructures is key for accelerated wound healing.
• Infected wounds require advanced therapeutic strategies combining antimicrobial and regenerative properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel core-shell microcapsule system for the spatial encapsulation and release of resveratrol (RSV) and chitosan (CS).
• To investigate the efficacy of these microcapsules in treating bacteria-infected wounds.
• To evaluate the combined antibacterial, antioxidant, and pro-healing effects of the microcapsule system.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of core-shell microcapsules (ALG-CS) using microfluidic electrospray technology.
• Encapsulation of resveratrol (RSV) in the core and crosslinked chitosan (CS) in the outer layer.
• In vitro assessment of RSV release, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial properties.
• In vivo evaluation of wound healing in Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound models.

Main Results:

• The CS hydrogel coating provided stability and controlled RSV release, particularly in acidic environments.
• RSV release demonstrated significant antioxidant capacity in vitro.
• The microcapsules exhibited enhanced antibacterial properties against S. aureus.
• In vivo studies showed accelerated wound healing, reduced inflammation, bacterial clearance, and promoted tissue regeneration.

Conclusions:

• The developed RSV-loaded CS microcapsules are a promising delivery system for infected wound therapy.
• The system effectively combines antibacterial and antioxidant functionalities for enhanced wound healing.
• Spatial encapsulation and controlled release contribute to the therapeutic efficacy in promoting skin regeneration.