Enhancement of antibacterial and wound healing capabilities of cotton fabric through the covalent bonding of antibiotic-loaded hydrophobized mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Wound dressings are highly desirable for mitigating pathogenic bacterial infections. Sterilized cotton fabric is a widely used medical dressing, facilitating wound healing, mitigating pathogenic infections, and reducing treatment expenses. Nevertheless, untreated cotton fabric lacks intrinsic antibacterial properties. In this study, we introduced antibiotics-loaded aminopropyl and octadecyl grafted mesoporous silica nanoparticles onto the surface of hydrophobized cotton fabric. The obtained wound dressing exhibited remarkable antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through sustained antibiotic release. In vivo assessments verified that this intelligent cotton fabric dressing accelerates wound healing and prevents adhesion to skin tissues. Additionally, the reusability, hydrophobic nature, and straightforward synthesis methodology collectively provide an alternative solution to smart wound dressings for biomedical applications.