National Sun Yat-sen University / Associate Prof.  Wen-Fan Chen

Wound infection remains a persistent and serious clinical issue, closely associated with population aging and common comorbidities such as diabetes and obesity. Infections frequently impede normal wound healing. With the global wound care market projected to reach USD 18.7 billion by 2027, the development of high-performance wound dressings has become a major focus in the field. In response to this need, we designed a hydrogel dressing that features high water content, favorable mechanical strength, inherent antibacterial properties, and the ability to promote cell proliferation and migration. The goal is to provide an alternative to conventional dressings by enhancing antibacterial effectiveness and wound healing efficiency, while also extending the functional duration of the dressing. This approach aims to reduce overall wound-care costs and improve ease of use.

 Technology Introduction 

In this study, natural polysaccharide materials were chemically modified to achieve gelation without the need for crosslinking agents that may pose cytotoxic risks. This approach enabled the fabrication of a low-cost and facile wound dressing matrix. By further incorporating drug-loaded microspheres into the matrix, we developed a composite antibacterial hydrogel dressing with a two-stage release profile: an initial burst release that is beneficial for managing severely infected wounds, followed by a sustained release of the drug from the microspheres, thereby prolonging the antibacterial efficacy. Future work aims to sterilize and individually package the required amount of dressing material for single-use applications, allowing easy use by the general public. This strategy not only offers a more cost-effective option for wound care but also addresses the growing need for home-based care in an aging society.

▲Caption: Fabrication Process Flowchart

 Application Examples 

1. Antibacterial Activity in Liquid Culture
When the dressing was immersed in an E. coli suspension, a clear two-stage antibacterial effect was observed: an initial rapid inhibition phase, followed by sustained antibacterial activity resulting from the gradual drug release from the microspheres.

2. Inhibition Zone Test on Agar Plates
Placing the dressing onto an E. coli-covered agar plate resulted in the formation of a distinct inhibition zone, demonstrating its ability to suppress bacterial growth and diffusion in a solid culture environment.

3. Cell Proliferation and Migration Assays
In cell proliferation and wound healing-related migration assays (e.g., scratch assay), the dressing was found to enhance cell growth and promote directed migration toward the wound gap, indicating its potential to support wound healing.

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 Patent Name and Number 

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 Industry-Academia / Tech Transfer Partner 

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 Honors and Awards  

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 Technical Contact  

Industrial Liaison Office, National Sun Yat-sen University
Tel: +886 7-5250165
Email: gloria@mail.nsysu.edu.tw