A Hydrogel Wound Dressing with Gradient Crosslinking and Silver/Copper Ions for Treatment of Severe Burns

The proposed design aims to improve upon the moisture balance and antibacterial efficacy of current burn wound dressings. Commercially available wound dressings do not allow for the control of moisture during the healing process. In this design, we introduced a gradient in cross-linking density, with increasing swelling tendency further from the wound surface, so that wound exudate can be wicked away in a controlled manner. This design is expected to prevent both overhydration (maceration) and drying of the wound surface. In addition, the antibacterial potential of the dressings was improved through the addition of silver and copper ions. Release of these metal ions from these hydrogels was controlled through hydrogel crosslinking density. The combination of silver (Ag⁺) and copper (Cu²⁺) is expected to inhibit the growth of a broader range of bacteria at a lower cost than silver alone.