Search Results (589)

Bacterial infections can delay wound healing and represent serious medical problems both in the hospital and community settings, especially skin wound infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. In this work, a gelatin hydrogel modified with photo-cross-linkable methacrylamide groups at 10% concentration (GelMA10%), enriched with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs), and loaded with Neomycin sulphate was developed with the aim to realize a tissue for wound care with improved mechanical and antimicrobial properties. TiO₂ nanocomposite GelMA films with two concentrations of TiO₂NPs were characterized to assess physicochemical, structural and mechanical properties by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDX), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TiO₂ nanocomposite GelMA films showed a more compact structure, reduced pore sizes and a higher compressive modulus at the increasing concentration of TiO₂NPs. They were able to absorb and retain water for a prolonged time; however, no significant differences in the swelling degree at the increasing concentration of TiO₂NPs were observed. In vitro drug release and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of TiO₂ nanocomposite GelMA film enriched with higher concentrations of TiO₂NPs, identified as a suitable candidate for wound healing, were investigated. Both GelMA10% and TiO₂ nanocomposite GelMA films loaded with drug exhibited a strong antibacterial action, whereas GelMA10% containing only TiO₂NPs did not show any antimicrobial properties. Full article

Diabetic chronic wounds (particularly diabetic foot ulcers) are difficult to heal due to factors such as high glucose levels, infection, and inflammatory imbalance. In severe cases, they can lead to tissue necrosis and amputation. Hydrogel materials, as moist wound dressings, possess high water content, biocompatibility, and tunability, making them an important platform for promoting diabetic wound healing. In recent years, novel smart hydrogels have been developed to integrate multiple functions. They respond to abnormal stimuli in the wound microenvironment—such as acidic pH, high glucose levels, or excessive reactive oxygen species—to trigger the release of drugs, delivering on-demand antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Simultaneously, they modulate immune responses (promoting macrophage polarization toward the M2 type) and stimulate angiogenesis, creating a microenvironment conducive to tissue regeneration. Some hydrogels incorporate antimicrobial agents, anti-biofilm components, or photothermal/photodynamic agents to effectively eliminate drug-resistant pathogens and control infections. Others serve as carriers for delivering stem cells and their exosomes, enhancing cell survival rates and releasing growth factors to accelerate wound healing. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in hydrogel strategies for diabetic wound treatment, focusing on stimulus-responsive hydrogels, antimicrobial and immune modulation mechanisms, pro-angiogenic and oxygen-supplying therapies, smart dressings and monitoring technologies, integration of stem cells and exosomes, as well as hydrogel injection, self-healing, and adhesion properties. Based on this, we analyze challenges and prospects for clinical translation of these strategies. Collectively, functionalized hydrogels hold promise as multifunctional therapeutic platforms for diabetic non-healing wounds. They offer a multi-pronged approach to disrupt the vicious cycle of “infection–inflammation–tissue destruction” thereby achieving more efficient wound healing. Full article

The present work aimed to obtain antibacterial wound dressings using bacterial cellulose (BC) as a support, to improve wound treatment and reduce the incidence of infections. To enhance the antibacterial activity of the synthesized dressings, the introduction of ZnO nanoparticles into the BC network by precipitation was pursued. The method chosen to develop ZnO NPs was green synthesis, an ecological and sustainable method for obtaining nanomaterials using plant extracts as reducing agents or stabilizers. Thus, the chosen plants were Ginger rhizomes, Bay leaves, and Rose hips, in both fresh and dry form, due to the natural benefits they possess, and the Soxhlet method was used to obtain the plant extracts desired to be used in the synthesis. The composite dressings were developed in two distinct sample series, differentiated by the immersion time of BC in the precursor Zn²⁺ solution. The samples in the first series were obtained by precipitation in a mixture of Zn²⁺ solution and natural extract, whereas the samples in the second series were obtained by successive immersion in Zn²⁺ solution and then in natural extract, which demonstrated a considerable difference. The best antimicrobial activity tested against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli was recorded for the composite material obtained in the presence of fresh rose hip extract, an aspect most likely related to the morphological and crystalline features of the ZnO phase, but also to the phytochemical profile of the extract used. Such eco-friendly materials represent valuable candidates for wound dressing applications due to their ability to support wound healing, relief burns, and skin irritation, provide antimicrobial protection, promote skin regeneration and reduce scarring, protect sensitive skin, and act as a barrier against external contaminants. Full article

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major clinical problem due to its resistance, virulence, and biofilm formation, which diminish antibiotic efficacy. This review explores natural products and antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) as alternative and combined strategies for controlling MRSA. Natural compounds, such as plant metabolites, essential oils, antimicrobial peptides, and fungal products, act by disrupting membranes, interfering with cellular processes, and limiting biofilm formation. Antimicrobial NPs, especially metal and metal oxide materials, act through membrane damage, oxidative stress, and metal ion release, enabling activity against resistant bacteria and improving biofilm penetration. Combining natural products with NPs increases stability, delivery, and local activity, enhances antibacterial effects, and reduces effective doses. Green synthesis enables direct integration of bioactive compounds, while nano-delivery platforms optimize solubility and controlled release. Nanotechnology-based applications such as wound dressings, nanocarriers, and multifunctional platforms support localized and sustained treatment and promote tissue repair. Despite these advances, clinical use is still constrained by safety concerns, variability in NP properties, and the lack of standardized evaluation and regulatory frameworks. Overall, combining natural products with antimicrobial NPs offers a practical strategy to augment MRSA treatment, but further progress depends on consistent design, robust safety evaluation, and clinical translation. Full article

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a structurally robust, biologically compatible, and highly adaptable biomaterial with significant potential for next-generation wound-care technologies. Its nanofibrillar, extracellular-matrix-like architecture provides exceptional moisture retention, mechanical stability, and conformability, enabling BC to function as an active scaffold rather than a traditional dressing. Advances in chemical modification, composite engineering, and bioactive functionalization, including antimicrobial metals, chitosan, biosurfactants, enzymes, and growth factors, have expanded BC’s therapeutic capabilities. Emerging smart BC dressings integrate biosensors, stimuli-responsive drug release, and 3D-printed architectures tailored to patient-specific wound geometries. Parallel developments in artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming BC production by optimizing bioprocessing, guiding genetic engineering, reducing culture media costs, and enabling real-time quality control, thereby improving scalability and industrial feasibility. These combined innovations position BC as a multifunctional, immunologically instructive, and digitally integrated platform for advanced regenerative wound care. This review reframes BC within the contemporary pathophysiology of chronic wounds, emphasizing its roles in immunomodulation, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, mechanotransduction, and the disruption of mixed bacterial–fungal biofilms that characterize diabetic foot ulcers and other non-healing wounds. BC hydrogels typically contain >90–99% water and exhibit tensile strengths exceeding 200 MPa, enabling robust mechanical performance in wound environments. Advances in BC composites have demonstrated antimicrobial reductions of 3–5 log units against common chronic-wound pathogens. Full article

The management of complex acute and chronic wounds remains a formidable challenge in modern medicine, underscoring the urgent need for advanced therapeutic strategies that accelerate healing, prevent infection, and promote functional tissue regeneration. Electrospun nanofibers have attracted considerable attention in the biomedical field due to their extracellular matrix-like architecture, high surface area, interconnected porosity, and tunable physicochemical composition, which drive advances in wound regeneration, tissue engineering, and biopolymer-based therapeutics. In wound healing, nanofibrous dressings composed of natural polymers such as chitosan, gelatin, collagen, and cellulose promote cell attachment and proliferation, support angiogenesis, and enable infection control while delivering bioactive agents, thereby addressing significant challenges related to inflammation, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial resistance. In tissue engineering, aligned and hierarchically organized scaffolds fabricated from biopolymers such as collagen, gelatin, chitosan, and cellulose enhance the guided orientation of cells, differentiation, and functional regeneration of neural, musculoskeletal, vascular, and skin tissues. In addition to their conventional regenerative applications, recent studies have demonstrated that electrospun biopolymer nanofibers can be used in multifunctional biomedical platforms, including smart and stimuli-responsive systems for drug delivery, biosensing, regenerative interfaces, and wearable medical technologies. The integrated constructs that incorporate diagnostic or therapeutic functionalities, hybrid fabrication approaches that combine 3D printing with electrospinning, and intelligent biopolymer frameworks that enable telemedicine, real-time physiological monitoring, and personalized regenerative therapies offer new opportunities for developing improved biomedical systems. Overall, these advances position electrospun nanofiber systems as promising biomaterials for next-generation biomedical innovation. This review summarizes recent progress in tissue-engineered scaffolds, wound dressings, fabrication strategies for integrative therapeutics, and wearable devices with transformative potential for biomedical applications. Finally, the review addresses significant challenges related to scalability and clinical translation. It offers perspectives on future directions, including the integration of artificial intelligence and the regeneration of complex skin appendages, which will shape the next generation of nanofiber-based wound-healing therapies. Full article

Chronic wound infections are a major clinical challenge due to biofilm formation and increasing antimicrobial resistance, which compromise the effectiveness of conventional treatments. This review provides a focused and critical evaluation of biomaterial-based strategies designed to simultaneously control infection and promote tissue regeneration. Four principal antimicrobial platforms are comparatively analyzed: drug-loaded biomaterials, antimicrobial peptide-functionalized systems, metal-based nanomaterials, and bacteriophage-integrated materials. Their mechanisms of action, effectiveness against biofilms, and capacity to modulate the wound microenvironment are systematically examined. A key contribution of this work is the integration of these strategies within a translational framework, highlighting trade-offs between clinical maturity, antimicrobial performance, resistance mitigation, and regulatory complexity. In contrast to conventional reviews that primarily catalogue materials, this manuscript positions biomaterial approaches along a continuum from clinically established to emerging technologies, providing insight into why certain strategies (e.g., antibiotic-loaded dressings) dominate current practice, while others (e.g., phage-based and smart responsive systems) remain high-impact but underdeveloped. Furthermore, recent advances in stimuli-responsive (“smart”) biomaterials, multifunctional composites, and bioinspired platforms are critically evaluated as next-generation tools capable of dynamically responding to infection-specific cues. Key barriers, including cytotoxicity, manufacturing scalability, and regulatory constraints, are discussed to identify priorities for clinical translation. This perspective provides a structured roadmap for the development of effective biomaterial-based interventions in chronic wound care. Full article

Background: Persistent endodontic infections involving Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans are a major cause of root canal treatment failure. Although conventional irrigants, such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine (CHX), exhibit strong immediate antimicrobial activity, microbes may survive and recover from the initial antimicrobial effect, hence limiting their effectiveness, especially in complex root canal anatomies and in the apical terminus of the tooth. Antibacterial dressing techniques were not proven satisfactory due to depletion of the antibacterial component or difficulty in spreading it evenly along the entire root canal. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy and release characteristics of a novel sustained-release device (SRD), delivering CHX via gutta-percha points coated with a sustained-release formulation used as a temporary intracanal medicament. Methods: Gutta-percha points were coated with two sustained-release CHX varnishes (CHX1 and CHX2) or a placebo and assessed in vitro. Antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and C. albicans was evaluated using agar diffusion assays over time. Release kinetics were analyzed using Rhodamine-labeled SRD in a 3D-printed acrylic molar tooth model via fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, biofilm-infected acrylic molar teeth were treated with a placebo, a single 2% CHX irrigation, or SRD-coated gutta-percha points placed as an intracanal dressing prior to obturation. Microbial viability was quantified by colony-forming unit (CFU/mL) analysis from root canals and gutta-percha points. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc multiple comparison test (p < 0.05). Results: SRD-coated gutta-percha points demonstrated sustained antimicrobial activity for up to 21 days against E. faecalis and 19 days against C. albicans. Fluorescence analysis, in an acrylic tooth model, confirmed continuous release for up to 15 days, with pronounced diffusion in the isthmus and palatal canals. In biofilm-infected acrylic teeth models, SRD treatment resulted in a significant reduction of 2–3 log₁₀ CFU/mL compared to placebo groups (p < 0.001) and prevented microbial rebound over the 14-day observation period. In contrast, a single application of 2% CHX solution showed only transient reduction followed by regrowth. Conclusions: Sustained-release CHX delivery via polymer-coated gutta-percha points provided prolonged antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal biofilms compared to conventional single-dose CHX application in this in vitro model. These findings support the potential use of coated gutta-percha points as a removable intracanal drug delivery platform prior to final obturation, although further studies incorporating direct-release quantification and in vivo validation are required before clinical translation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Wound management presents a substantial clinical challenge due to the rising incidence of chronic wounds, infections, and the limitations of conventional dressings in creating an ideal healing microenvironment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of advanced smart hydrogel platforms designed to improve wound healing outcomes, focusing on their capacity to respond adaptively to physiological and external stimuli. Methods: This article analyzes the core characteristics of smart hydrogels, specifically examining stimuli-responsive systems (pH, temperature, enzyme, light, and electricity). The review evaluates advanced configurations—including injectable, self-healing, and 3D-printable systems—and functionalized hydrogels integrated with antimicrobials, drugs, and nanocomposites. Additionally, essential characterization methodologies, biological assessments, and regulatory considerations for clinical translation are synthesized. Results: The literature, which is predominantly preclinical in nature, indicates that functionalized hydrogels significantly enhance tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, and infection control compared to traditional methods. Conductive hydrogels utilizing bioelectrical signals show particular promise in accelerating the healing process. While current clinical applications and commercial products demonstrate efficacy, significant barriers remain regarding large-scale manufacturing and regulatory approval. Conclusions: Smart hydrogels represent a transformative approach to precision wound management, offering superior adaptability and therapeutic delivery. To achieve widespread clinical adoption, future research must address manufacturing scalability and focus on emerging trends, such as the integration of biosensors and AI-powered monitoring systems, to create fully intelligent wound care solutions. Full article

At present, the development of antimicrobial systems requires ongoing and consistent improvement in their efficacy and versatility. Polymeric nanogels can serve as an efficient tool for this purpose, as they have become an excellent alternative for the design of tissue engineering and bone regeneration scaffolds, in addition to vehicles for the delivery of drugs or active substances, and they have recently been investigated as wound dressings. Nanogels have also been shown to be an excellent alternative for nanomedicine due to their antimicrobial activity and specific properties, such as swelling, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this review, we present an analysis of the use of polymeric nanogels for antimicrobial therapy and provide a discussion focused on different types of nanogels and their advantages and disadvantages, which will serve as a reference point for the future development of nanogels with antimicrobial properties. We also focus on the analysis of the different methodologies employed to prepare nanogels. Full article

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most serious and costly complications of diabetes, characterised by delayed healing, frequent infections, and a high risk of recurrence. Despite advances in wound care, many current therapies fail to address the multifactorial pathophysiology of diabetic wounds, including vascular dysfunction, immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and microbial imbalance. In this context, topical probiotics have emerged as a promising microbiome-based strategy aimed at restoring microbial balance while promoting tissue repair. This review summarises current evidence on the use of topical probiotics in diabetic wound healing, with a particular focus on DFUs, outlining key pathophysiological barriers to healing and examining how probiotic therapies may counteract these processes through antimicrobial, antibiofilm, immunomodulatory, and pro-angiogenic mechanisms. Preclinical studies suggest that topical probiotics may promote accelerated wound closure, reduce bacterial burden, modulate inflammatory responses, and enhance collagen deposition and angiogenesis following topical probiotic application. Early clinical studies investigations remain limited to small pilot studies and case series but have reported preliminary signals of enhanced healing and acceptable short-term tolerability in small exploratory cohorts. In addition, recent advances in probiotic delivery, such as bioengineered dressings, postbiotic formulations, and nano-enabled systems designed to improve stability and therapeutic performance, are also discussed. While existing data indicate biological plausibility and early clinical feasibility, larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials and deeper mechanistic investigations are still required to confirm efficacy, clarify safety in high-risk populations, and enable responsible clinical translation. Full article

The adaptive nature of bacteria and their increasing resistance to conventional therapies demand alternative strategies to effectively control wound infections. At the wound site, dynamic biological processes are easily disrupted by microbial colonization, compromising normal healing. In this study, Zn-based nanoparticles composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc phosphate (Zn₃(PO₄)₂) were synthesized via a green route using coconut milk and coconut water as biological media. Although ZnO formation via zinc hydroxide intermediates was initially targeted, structural analyses revealed a multiphase Zn-based system resulting from interactions between Zn²⁺ ions and naturally occurring phosphate species in the coconut-derived sources. The resulting material was incorporated into sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel dressings, further enhanced with spirulina and aronia powders. Physicochemical characterization (XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR), along with swelling and degradation studies, confirmed structural stability and appropriate hydrogel behavior. Antimicrobial testing against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli demonstrated a dominant antibiofilm effect of the Zn-based nanoparticles, while botanical additives exhibited moderate, time-dependent activity. Biological evaluation demonstrated good cytocompatibility toward human keratinocytes and murine macrophages, with botanical additives mitigating mild nanoparticle-induced cellular responses. Full article

The development of collagen-based composite materials offers new opportunities for designing bioactive porous structures with tunable properties. This study focuses on sponges or scaffolds fabricated from fish skin-derived tropocollagen combined with detonation nanodiamonds (NDs), aiming to explore how incorporation of NDs and application of radiation, as a potential sterilization method, influence structural and functional characteristics of the material. Freeze-dry methods of sponge fabrication resulted in a bilayered structure of open porosity, with microporosity at the top and a microchannel at the lower part of the material. The sponges demonstrated mechanical properties with relatively low elongation of below 10%, while the maximum stress was reduced by ca. 20% due to irradiation. Hydration and absorption experiments, mimicking the resorption of collagen in physiological conditions of expected application as wound dressing material, demonstrated controllable fluid uptake and gradual material dissolution, taking place over several hours, depending essentially on the irradiation treatment and morphological characteristics of the sponge. These findings highlight the versatility of collagen–nanodiamond composites as platforms, in which structural design and processing parameters control performance. Moreover, they provide a strong indication of the expected behavior of collagen–nanoparticle systems, including those incorporating NDs modified to impart specific biological functionality, such as antimicrobial activity. Full article

This study investigates the development and characterization of bioactive films incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into biocompatible polymers, namely alginate and chitosan, fabricated using two methods, spin-coating and drop-casting, and aiming to enhance their antimicrobial properties. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic mobility (EM) of the film precursor solutions revealed significant changes in the nanoparticles’ size and Zeta potential (ZP), reflecting the influence of polymer coatings. Alginate contributed to high electrostatic stability due to its negative charge, while chitosan facilitated specific interactions with negatively charged surfaces. Raman spectroscopy revealed that spin-coating conditions did not successfully result in film formation, highlighting the need for further optimization. Therefore, subsequent characterization studies were conducted only for the films formed by drop-casting. Topographical and nanomechanical assessments of these drop-cast films, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and force spectroscopy, demonstrated that AgNPs reduced adhesion and elasticity in alginate films, while increasing rigidity and adhesion in chitosan-based films. Antimicrobial tests confirmed the efficacy of AgNPs in both precursor solutions and polymer films, with chitosan-based films that retained structural integrity, which makes them suitable for prolonged applications, while alginate films displayed rapid gelation upon hydration, potentially advantageous in short-term applications. The findings underscore the potential of these biopolymer-AgNP composites in creating antimicrobial materials for food packaging, wound dressings, and other biomedical applications. However, challenges related to film deposition methods, such as spin-coating, require further optimization to improve film formation and reproducibility. Full article

Volatile phytochemicals such as perillaldehyde (PAH) exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities relevant to wound repair; however, topical use is limited by volatility, chemical instability, and potential irritation associated with burst exposure. Here, we developed a nano-in-hydrogel dressing by encapsulating PAH into lipid nanoparticles (PAH-L) and incorporating them into a carbomer hydrogel (PAH-L-G). PAH-L showed a uniform nanoscale size distribution, high encapsulation efficiency, and good colloidal stability. After gel incorporation, PAH-L-G formed an interconnected porous network with rapid swelling and a more sustained release profile than free PAH or PAH-L. Hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility assays indicated low hemolysis and high fibroblast viability. In a full-thickness rat wound model, PAH-L-G accelerated wound closure and improved histological regeneration without obvious local irritation. Overall, the lipid-nanoparticle-in-hydrogel strategy stabilizes PAH and enables controlled topical delivery, supporting PAH-L-G as a promising wound dressing platform. Full article