A mechanically robust and moisture-retentive hydrocolloid dressing for chronic wound management

Due to their prolonged healing times and susceptibility to infection, chronic wounds pose a significant clinical challenge. In order to improve the treatment of chronic wounds, a silver-curcumin (Ag-Cur) hydrocolloid dressing was developed in this work. integrates nanotechnology with polymer-based wound dressings by using Ag-Curcumin nanoparticles (Ag-Cur NPs) as a nano filler, which were prepared and characterized using various techniques to confirm successful formation of stable silver nanoparticles with the acceptable properties, including surface Plasmon resonance (SPR), zeta potential (ZP), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Poly dispersive index (PDI), and HR-TEM. The results demonstrated the formation of Ag-Cur nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic size of 197.3 ± 0.709 nm and a zeta potential of -27.5 ± 0.603 mV. Morphological analyses via SEM and EDX revealed a porous structure with uniform nanoparticle distribution, while mechanical testing demonstrated superior tensile strength and a swelling ratio of 428.76%, surpassing commercial dressings. The hydrocolloid dressings shown high batch-to-batch reproducibility, and the Ag-Cur nanoparticles demonstrated acceptable long-term stability. Biological evaluations showed significant antimicrobial activity against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, alongside potent anti-inflammatory effects (82.43% albumin denaturation inhibition at 1000 µg/mL) and substantial antibacterial, bactericidal, and anti-biofilm activity against MRSA, highlighting its promise as a multifunctional wound dressing for infection management and reducing biofilm-related healing delay. The sustained release profile, reaching 80% after 100 h, ensures prolonged therapeutic effects. Finally, with a CC₅₀ of 470.06 ± 23.09 µg/mL, the Ag-Cur hydrocolloid demonstrated moderate cytocompatibility with HSF-1 cells. Additionally, Ag-Cur-HCD succeeds over both Blank-HCD and Ag-HCD in suppressing LPS-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in HSF-1 cells, as seen by the IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO levels. As a result, Ag-Cur-HCD considerably modulates important inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. These results suggest that the Ag-Cur hydrocolloid shows potential for future wound dressing applications. Future studies will focus on evaluating the formulation in models of infected and chronic wounds, as well as long-term safety and comparative efficacy assessments.