Rhein incorporated silk fibroin hydrogels with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory efficacy to promote healing of bacteria-infected burn wounds

Advanced dressings that can simultaneously prevent bacterial colonization/infection and reduce inflammation are highly desired. A simple strategy was developed to incorporate an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drug rhein into the structure of silk fibroin (SF) matrix to fabricate a hydrogel dressing. The SF/Rhein hydrogels showed fibrous network nanostructure, high water content (~90%), high water adsorption ability (>2 folds of its own weight), acceptable mechanical strength, biocompatibility and antibacterial properties, suitable as dressings for the treatment of bacterial infected wounds. The SF/Rhein hydrogels enhanced the healing rate of burn wounds by reducing inflammation, expediting angiogenesis, and promoting skin appendages formation, being a promising candidate as wound dressings.