Antimicrobial hydrogel foam dressings for improved chronic wound healing
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2019 Omnipress - All rights reserved. Statement of Purpose: Chronic wounds affect over 40 million people in the United States with a rising prevalence due to increased rates of diabetes and an aging population. In a chronic wound, healing is impeded by bacterial infection, persistent inflammation, extracellular matrix disorganization, and delayed angiogenesis. Rising concerns with antibiotic-resistant bacteria spurred the development of a growing number of antimicrobial dressings; however, the advantage in infection control is offset by the relatively dismal wound closure rates in chronic wounds. To address these issues, we propose to develop a hydrogel foam dressing loaded with an antimicrobial agent that can inhibit bacterial infection and promote healing. Gallium maltolate (GaM) inhibits growth of multiple bacterial strains and combats bacterial activity even when a biofilm is formed. Unlike currently applied antimicrobial agents, such as silver and iodine that can have negative effects on proliferative cells, we have shown that a GaM ointment can improve wound healing in a large animal model of chronic, infected limb wounds. However, there are some limitations in using an ointment to treat chronic wounds including poor dose control and need for frequent re-application. GaM-loaded poly (lactide co-glycolide) PLGA microspheres were developed to provide controlled release of GaM to prolong dressing application time and avoid repeated dressing changes. In addition, current hydrogel dressings cannot be trimmed to the fit the injury size due to poor pliability or cope with excessive wound exudates. Highly porous hydrogel foams demonstrate limited post-swelling dimensional change, fast swelling rate, and pliability for better application. Also, the hydrogel foam will provide moisture balance to the wound, control the exudate level, and promote wound healing. In conclusion, the microspheres were embedded in hydrogel foams to generate a dressing that provides infection control combined with rapid, self-tuning exudate control and lasting moisture balance.
