Issue 15, 2021

Stretch-responsive adhesive microcapsules for strain-regulated antibiotic release from fabric wound dressings

Abstract

Bacterial infection of a wound is a major complication that can significantly delay proper healing and even necessitate surgical debridement. Conventional non-woven fabric dressings, including gauzes, bandages and cotton wools, often fail in treating wound infections in a timely manner due to their passive release mechanism of antibiotics. Here, we propose adhesive mechanically-activated microcapsules (MAMCs) capable of strongly adhering to a fibrous matrix to achieve a self-regulated release of antibiotics upon uniaxial stretching of non-woven fabric dressings. To achieve this, a uniform population of polydopamine (PDA)-coated MAMCs (PDA-MAMCs) are prepared using a microfluidics technique and subsequent oxidative dopamine polymerization. The PDA-MAMC allows for robust mechano-activation within the fibrous network through high retention and effective transmission of mechanical force under stretching. By validating the potential of a PDA-MAMCs-laden gauze to release antibiotics in a tensile strain-dependent manner, we demonstrate that PDA-MAMCs can be successfully incorporated into a woven material and create a smart wound dressing for control of bacterial infections. This new mechano-activatable delivery approach will open up a new avenue for a stretch-triggered, on-demand release of therapeutic cargos in skin-mountable or wearable biomedical devices.

Graphical abstract: Stretch-responsive adhesive microcapsules for strain-regulated antibiotic release from fabric wound dressings

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
21 Apr 2021
Accepted
25 Jun 2021
First published
05 Jul 2021

Biomater. Sci., 2021,9, 5136-5143

Stretch-responsive adhesive microcapsules for strain-regulated antibiotic release from fabric wound dressings

Y. K. Jo, S. Heo, A. P. Peredo, R. L. Mauck, G. R. Dodge and D. Lee, Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 5136 DOI: 10.1039/D1BM00628B

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