New Research on Antibiotic-free Antimicrobial Wound Dressings

We are thrilled to share that “Photodynamic, UV-curable and fibre-forming polyvinyl alcohol derivative with broad processability and staining-free antibacterial capability” has been published by Elsevier’s European Polymer Journal.

This study represents a collaborative effort between The University of Leeds’s School of Dentistry, School of Chemistry and School of Design, offering a significant advancement in the field of antibiotic-free antimicrobial wound dressings, through the development of a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) derivative with broad material processability and staining-free photodynamic capability.

Critically, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising antibiotic-free strategy for broad-spectrum infection control in chronic wounds, and through its application, we could minimise bacterial resistance risks. On the other hand, APDT is associated with significant challenges that restrict its use in wound dressings, namely the uncontrollable diffusion of the photodynamic agent following contact with the biological environment, and the consequent risks of off-site toxicity and tissue colouration /staining.

The study explores these clinical limitations, through the development of a novel photodynamic material that can trigger significant antimicrobial effect against common chronic wound bacteria, while ensuring suppressed staining and preserved viability of skin cells. This material can also be delivered in wound dressing-compliant formats, such as films, textile fibres, and nanoscale coatings, opening possibilities for future scalability studies.

Collectively, the above findings indicate that this PVA derivative offers a promising alternative to state-of-the-art antimicrobial wound dressings, addressing the growing need for antibiotic-free and eco-friendly antimicrobial strategies.

The study has been co-authored by Dr Man Li, Dr Charles Brooker, Rucha Ambike, Dr Ziyu Gao, LITAC Deputy Director Dr Paul Thornton, Professor Thuy Do, and Professor Giuseppe Tronci.

You can read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305725000825?via%3Dihub#ab015