Oxidized cyclodextrin inclusion tea tree oil to prepare long‐lasting antibacterial collagen scaffold for enhanced wound healing

Abstract Not only are the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of biomaterials important considerations, but also their antibacterial properties. Fetal cowhide acellular dermal matrix (FADM), as a collagen scaffold with good biocompatibility and bioactivity, is difficult to be used to promote wound healing due to lack of sufficient mechanical strength and resistance to degradation. In order to solve this defect and give it long‐lasting antibacterial properties, a novel chemically‐cross‐linked antibacterial fetal cowhide acellular dermal matrix scaffold (β‐CD/TTO‐FADM) was fabricated by simultaneous modification by oxidized cyclodextrin (OCD) and tea tree oil (TTO). The cross‐linking of OCD improved the physical and chemical properties of FADM. TTO endowed it wide‐spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Apart from this, the drug‐carrying capacity of OCD could also control the release of the TTO, and made the antibacterial ability durable and temperature sensitive. In addition, cell experiments and animal experiments showed that β‐CD/TTO‐FADM had good biocompatibility and could accelerate the wound healing process. Overall, an improved wound dressing with antibacterial properties that can be used in clinics has been developed, and it has also provided ideas for the development and application of drug‐loaded crosslinking agents.