Protein-reduced gold nanoparticles mixed with gentamicin sulfate and loaded into konjac/gelatin sponge heal wounds and kill drug-resistant bacteria.

Timely antibacterial treatment of wounds reduces the probability of wound infection and promotes wound healing. However, the materials used to treat wounds often fail to provide both sterilization (especially for super bacteria) and moisture, and some may even cause secondary injury to the wound. In this study, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of average grain diameter of 3 ± 1 nm were prepared using egg white as the reductant. These particles showed no aggregation and pink fluorescence. Au NPs were mixed with gentamicin sulfate (GS) and loaded into a mixture of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and gelatin as wound dressing (KGM/Gelatin@Au NPs/GS). Antibacterial experiments showed that the Au NPs amplified the antibacterial activity of GS; Au NPs/GS efficiently eliminated bacteria, especially super bacteria. Cytotoxicity tests indicated that KGM/Gelatin@Au NPs/GS showed basically no cytotoxicity to L929 cells. In addition, KGM/Gelatin@Au NPs/GS possesses good water absorption, water retention, and enhanced mechanical properties, which can provide a moist environment for wounds and promote healing. In conclusion, our study showed that the antibacterial activity of KGM/Gelatin@Au NPs/GS is better than that of only GS and that it efficiently eliminated super bacteria. Therefore, KGM/Gelatin@Au NPs/GS can be used for killing superbugs, inhibiting bacterial growth, and promoting wound healing.