Composite Hydrogel Dressing with Drug-Release Capability and Enhanced Mechanical Performance.

ABSTRACT: Wound care is a critical concern due to the rising prevalence of chronic and infected wounds, which demands improved treatment solutions. Conventional dressings often fall short in delivering effective drug release and mechanical performance, limiting their clinical utility. In this study, we present a composite hydrogel dressing incorporating berberine-loaded silk fibroin microspheres and Calotropis gigantea fibers (CGFs). This innovative dressing achieves sustained drug release and enhanced mechanical strength. The hydrogel exhibits excellent antibacterial activity (97.40 ± 0.53%) against Staphylococcus aureus, efficient drug loading, and prolonged release profiles. The addition of CGFs significantly enhances mechanical performance (maximum compressive strength of 295.74 ±

SUBMITTER: Yang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421659 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature