As derivatives from marine natural biomaterials, alginate-based and chitosan-based biomaterials are commonly used in wound dressings. Calcium alginate fiber (CAF) dressings possess excellent absorption and unique gel forming performance, but the low bioactivity limits its application in wound healing. Carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-Chit) has excellent antibacterial activity, but the gel structure with weak mechanical properties restricts its application. In this study, minocycline (Mino)/CM-Chit solution was coated on the surface of plasma treated CAF needle-punched nonwovens, and then Mino loaded CM-Chit gel/CAF nonwovens composite dressings were fabricated by EDC/NHS (1-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide) crosslinking. The dressings had a porous composite structure, which allowed them to quickly absorb and store a large number of wound exudates. Skin-like tensile performance allowed the dressings to provide a better healing environment. Antibacterial assay against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus indicated that the addition of Mino significantly improved the antibacterial activity of the wound dressings. The tight structure of CM-Chit gel prevented the burst release of Mino so that the dressings had antibacterial activity in a certain period of release time. Cell culture assay showed that the dressings had excellent cell biocompatibility. As new functional dressings, the prepared composite dressings had excellent potential in the clinical healing of wounds.
Keywords: alginate fibers; antibacterial activity; carboxymethyl chitosan; drug release; wound dressings.