Polymer Composite Sponges with Inherent Antibacterial, Hemostatic, Inflammation-Modulating and Proregenerative Performances for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-Infected Wound Healing

Clinical wound management remains a major challenge due to massive bleeding, bacterial infection, and difficult wound healing after tissue trauma. To simultaneously address these issues, composite polymer sponges for accelerating drug-resistant bacterial infected wound healing are fabricated by facilely mixing sodium polyacrylate (PAAS), double quaternary ammonium salts-conjugated chitosan (QAS-CS), and collagen (COL) in aqueous solution, followed by lyophilization. Composite sponges (PAAS/QAS-CS/COL, PQC) show highly porous microstructures (porosity approximate to 90%) with moderate compress modulus (approximate to 0.3 MPa), tensile strength (0.004 MPa), and high swelling ratio (approximate to 3500%). Importantly, PQC sponge demonstrates superior hemostasis ability over commercially available CS sponge by inducing rapid hemagglutination, and exhibits significantly better antibacterial activity against both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli by destroying cell membrane and causing the leakage of bioactive components such as potassium ion and beta-galactosidase from treated bacterial. Furthermore, PQC sponge can efficiently promote cell proliferation. Significantly, the sponge greatly expedites the regeneration of MRSA-infected full-thickness skin wound in rabbit by successfully eradicating bacterial infection, and reducing inflammation. PQC sponge also improves both early angiogenesis and blood vessel maturation at the wound site. Overall, this multifunctional sponge is a promising wound dressing for clinical use and holds great potential for rapid clinical translation.

Automated summary

The composite polymer sponge developed in this study shows promising potential for accelerating wound healing, with excellent hemostasis ability and antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria. By eradicating bacterial infection, reducing inflammation, promoting cell proliferation, and enhancing early angiogenesis, the sponge greatly expedites the regeneration of wounds, making it a useful tool for clinical wound management.