A flexible carboxymethyl cellulose aerogel fiber dressing with sustained copper ion release: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory efficacy for accelerated full-thickness wound repair

Abstract

The core role of sustained copper ion release in medical dressings lies in achieving long-acting, mild, and multi-functional wound repair. Combining biomaterial science with textile technology, this paper proposes a novel strategy for constructing multifunctional carboxymethyl cellulose/copper (CMC/Cu) composite aerogel-fiber dressing and systematically investigates their wound repair efficacy. In vitro assays verified that the dressing exhibited exceptional long-lasting antibacterial activity, with an inhibition rate of > 99% against E. coli and S. aureus for over 72 h, as well as favorable cytocompatibility (92% HUVEC cell viability), superior water absorption and retention capacities for efficient exudate management, and excellent hemocompatibility (hemolysis rate of 1.7%, far below the 5% safety limit). In a rat full-thickness wound model, histological analysis confirmed that the dressing could stimulate endothelial cell proliferation and migration, enhance collagen deposition and remodeling, accelerate granulation tissue maturation, and facilitate neovascularization. It also exerts significant time-dependent anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) expression. Benefiting from these integrated functionalities, the dressing achieved a high wound healing rate of 97.93 ± 1.12% within 14 days. This work provides valuable insights for the rational design of advanced aerogel-based wound dressings with great potential for clinical translation.