Development of next-generation antimicrobial hydrogel dressing to combat burn wound infection

Abstract

Infection of burn wounds often leads to poor healing, sepsis, disability, or even death. Traditional care focuses on early debridement, fluid resuscitation, and intravenous antibiotics but these are often inadequate due to compromised vasculature limiting systemic antibiotics effectiveness. Biofilms in burn wounds are barriers to treatment and are associated with the transition of wounds from acute to chronic non-healing state. Current topical treatments for burn wounds include skin substitutes impregnated with skin or stem cells that promote healing; or hydrogels delivering an antibiotic, silver, or synthetic antimicrobial peptides. The success of currently available products is varied and, in some cases, very limited due to associated cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, the ability to only fight extracellular biofilm infections, and the ever-increasing development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There is, therefore, a high clinical need for the development of next-generation hydrogel wound dressings, to combat bacterial burn wound infection. A recent paper by Khan et al. (Bioscience Reports (2020) 39, https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20190504) highlights the development of a catechol cross-linked antimicrobial peptide hydrogel, adding to the body of literature describing innovative solutions with better delivery systems for antimicrobial peptides, and identifying a promising future biomaterial for development of novel hydrogel dressing to combat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections in burn wounds.

In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on the Antibacterial Activity and Safety of a New Antimicrobial Peptide Dermaseptin-AC

“…The antibacterial activity of some biopolymers, such as chitosan, can act synergistically with AMPs ( 33 ). Thus, advanced hydrogel dressings that deliver AMPs are promising against drug-resistant infections in chronic wounds ( 34 ).…”

Eradication of Mature Bacterial Biofilms with Concurrent Improvement in Chronic Wound Healing Using Silver Nanoparticle Hydrogel Treatment

“…Recently, a number of treatment modalities including both cellular therapies and biofunctionalized materials have gained momentum in regenerative medicine; however, treatment outcomes have been variable and often unsatisfactory as wound infection is still a critical challenge [ 61 ]. It is becoming increasingly clear that healing and regeneration of chronic wounds requires powerful and robust antimicrobial agents to clear infection and provide protection against recurrent infections through sustained and prolonged antimicrobial activity [ 62 ]. Here we have shown that our AgNP hydrogel not only clears infections by eradicating wound biofilms but also significantly improves the regenerative process through its multifunctional properties.…”

3D Printing Personalized, Photocrosslinkable Hydrogel Wound Dressings for the Treatment of Thermal Burns

“…When it comes to the material to be 3D printed, of the types of wound dressing materials present in the market, hydrogel wound dressings are an appropriate choice, owing to their ability to debride, moisturize the wound, [13] and also to absorb exudates. [14] It is also well-established that due to the non-Newtonian behavior of hydrogels, hydrogels are printable as they can be extruded through nozzles or needles with ease and subsequently regain all or part of their viscosities once deposited on the print bed.…”

“…[12] Currently, commercially available dressings do not yet have the ability to simultaneously combat infection and provide other beneficial functions such as pain relief and wound healing promotion. [13] As such, the personalization of wound dressings in the treatment of burns to meet…”