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

Yun Kee Jo, Su Jin Heo, Ana P. Peredo, Robert L. Mauck, George R. Dodge, Daeyeon Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5136-5143
Number of pages8
JournalBiomaterials Science
Volume9
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - 7 Aug 2021

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