Dopamine-alginate-zinc ion dressings employing synergistic active and passive antimicrobial strategies for enhanced burn wound infection management and accelerated healing.

Burn wounds are particularly challenging to manage due to high infection rates, excessive exudate, and impaired healing. We developed an innovative burn Polydopamine-Alginate-Zinc ion (Zn2+) dressing (APBM) using a synergistic approach combining passive bacterial inhibition and active sterilization mechanisms. APBM was synthesized through a facile two-step process, integrating an effective bacterial adhesion-blocking mechanism with active sterilization via Zn2+. In vitro studies demonstrated that APBM achieved over 99 % antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and exhibited notable activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The antibacterial effect persisted for 11 days against S. aureus and 9 days against E. coli. APBM exhibited an exudate absorption rate twice that of conventional polyurethane (PU) sponges. In a rat burn model, APBM enhanced micro angiogenesis, collagen deposition and reduced inflammation, resulting in a 27.5 % faster wound healing rate compared to the blank group. This performance was superior to dressings employing only a single antimicrobial strategy and conventional sponges. Overall, APBM showed significant potential as a composite functional dressing addressing infection prevention, exudate management, and healing promotion, presenting a promising solution to the major challenges faced in burn wound care.