Silver-infused lysine crosslinked hydrogel with oxidized regenerated cellulose for prospective advanced wound dressings

The study aimed to develop a multifunctional wound dressing with enhanced antibacterial properties and wound healing promotion. The synthesis process involved preparing oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) following a modified procedure, synthesizing chitosan/silver nanoparticles (CS/Ag NPs) via an in-situ reduction method, and subsequently preparing ORC/CS/Lys@Ag NPs hydrogels. Characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS were employed to analyze functional groups, lattice structure, morphology, and elemental composition. Gelation time, swelling behavior, water retention, mechanical properties, viscosity, self-healing capacity, rheological behavior, oxygen permeability, in vitro degradation, release of Ag+, and antibacterial properties were evaluated using various experimental methods. Results indicated that the novel wound dressing has the capability to evenly distribute Ag NPs to effectively counteract bacteria. It can maintain moist conditions for 86 h, resist a sturdy mechanical pressure of 11.3 KPa, and degrade by 11.045 % ± 0.429 within 8 h. Combining its efficient gas exchange abilities, self-repairing function, and biocompatibility, almost full recovery was observed in injured mouse skin within 13 days, highlighting its promising clinical utility.