Comparative Antimicrobial Properties of Sodium Borate and Carbonate and their Perborate and Percarbonate Counterparts

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant challenge in wound management, particularly in ischemic and chronic wounds, which are prone to infection and where traditional treatments often fall short. In response to this need, the antibacterial activity of polycaprolactone (PCL) films, composited with sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate to provide controlled release of oxygen and reactive oxygen species, is compared in vitro and in vivo. Sustained antimicrobial action against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria is measured in vitro that allowed lower quantities to be used compared with the borate and carbonate counterparts sodium borate and carbonate. This effect is also observed in vivo, such that perborate formulations are effective at wound treatment using one-tenth the borate concentration required in sodium borate formulations. Overall, sodium perborate-loaded films significantly accelerate wound closure, reduce bacterial load, and enhance early-phase wound healing, outperforming borate equivalent counterparts at equivalent loading levels. In addition to effectively inhibiting bacterial growth, these composites prevent biofilm formation in vitro. These findings suggest that perborate-loaded polymeric films could be a powerful tool in advanced wound care, offering both potent antimicrobial effects and promotion of wound healing in complex clinical settings.