3D bioprinted alginate/chitosan-based sandwich-structured wound dressing with dual-drug release for enhanced skin...

The development of effective wound dressings is critical for accelerating tissue repair and minimizing complications in skin injuries. In this study, we designed and fabricated a multifunctional, sandwich-structured wound dressing using 3D bioprinting technology. The construct comprises an alginate/chitosan hydrogel inner layer loaded with gentamicin sulfate (GS), a middle layer containing L-arginine (Arg) to enhance angiogenesis, and a commercial non-woven tape as the outer protective layer. The physicochemical characterization confirmed appropriate printability, interconnected macro and microporous structure, and incorporation of bioactive agents. The scaffold exhibited hydrophilic properties with rapid moisture uptake and retention, and showed controlled degradation and dual drug release kinetics with pH-dependent release of GS and controlled delivery of Arg. In vitro assays indicated that the scaffold supports BMSCs viability, proliferation, and angiogenic genes expression (VEGF, CD31, FGF) along with effective antibacterial activity and blood clotting capacity. This 3D bioprinted multilayer scaffold represents a promising novel wound dressing for skin regeneration applications.