Curcumin (Ferrocene)-Functionalized Polyurethane Composite Dressing Integrated with Dopamine-Grafted Sodium Alginate:...

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and persistent inflammatory responses represent principal impediments to efficacious wound healing, particularly in mechanically dynamic or infected wound environments. Consequently, multifunctional hydrogel-based dressings capable of integrating coordinated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities with robust wet-tissue adhesion are highly sought after, yet their development remains limited. Herein, we introduce a curcumin-functionalized polyurethane composite dressing (designated CPFSD), engineered through the incorporation of dopamine-grafted sodium alginate (SD) and ferrocene (Fc), which collectively confer synergistic ROS modulation alongside durable tissue adhesion. Mechanistically, curcumin provides intrinsic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while Fc facilitates reversible Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox cycling, thereby augmenting ROS scavenging capacity; concurrently, catechol and hydroquinone moieties present on SD establish stable interfacial interactions with moist biological tissues. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization revealed that CPFSD effectively scavenged over 80% of both DPPH and hydroxyl (·OH) radicals, exhibited greater than 80% antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and demonstrated markedly enhanced adhesive performance while preserving mechanical flexibility and cytocompatibility. In vitro assays further indicated that CPFSD significantly attenuated oxidative stress in L929 fibroblasts and RAW264.7 macrophages, accompanied by downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. In a murine full-thickness excisional wound model, CPFSD facilitated accelerated epithelialization, angiogenesis, and wound contraction, achieving wound closure at day 11 without observable systemic toxicity. Collectively, these findings underscore that rational multicomponent design strategies can yield adhesion-capable wound dressings endowed with synergistic therapeutic functionalities suitable for addressing complex pathological wound conditions.