Wound dressing materials help wounds heal faster.
A team of scientists from the National University of Science and Technology MISiS, along with colleagues from the European Central Institute of Technology (Brno, Czech Republic) and other Czech universities, have developed a biodegradable material with antibacterial properties for use as a dressing on damaged skin.
Bandages made from this material have a precise effect; they remain effective for a long time and do not need changing – a new bandage can be placed directly over the old one.
The history of bandages is marked by many milestones, linked to the names of Hippocrates, Paracelsus, and other world-renowned healers. Ancient woolen and linen bandages were soaked with oil. In the 19th century, Nikolai Pirogov proposed a method of wound disinfection – washing the wound with a solution and using an absorbent bandage to increase the amount of fluid draining out.
However, even modern treatments for burns or cuts, which require sterilization, the use of antibiotics, and frequent dressing changes, have side effects. Antibiotics not only kill harmful microorganisms but also beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, dressing changes disrupt the integrity of the newly healed skin, causing pain for the patient.
Scientists at MISiS and their European colleagues have created a biocompatible dressing material that can act locally on inflamed areas without the need for dressing changes – after releasing antibiotics, the dressing gradually dissolves into the skin. If needed, a new dressing can be placed directly over the old one.
One of the authors of the study, researcher Yelizaveta Permyakova at the MISiS Inorganic Nanomaterials Laboratory, said: "We created a bandage based on polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers – a biocompatible, self-absorbing material – and embedded gentamicin (GM, a broad-spectrum antibiotic) onto the surface of these nanofibers. Interestingly, the material showed a long-lasting effect: we observed a significant reduction in the number of bacteria even 48 hours after application. Typically, surfaces with antibacterial properties lose their effectiveness within the first day or a few hours after application."
The experiment was conducted using three strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria with varying degrees of antibiotic resistance, but in all three cases, they observed a strong antibacterial effect.
According to scientists, this material has potential not only for use in skin but also in treating inflammatory bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteomyelitis.
Scientists continue to experiment with and improve the material: their plan includes implanting other antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, onto the fibers. It's a new generation antibiotic, so most bacteria haven't yet developed resistance to it.
Additionally, they also plan to increase the material's performance by creating multilayered formulations containing antibiotics, heparin to reduce blood clotting at the wound surface, and another antibiotic.
