Scalable nanoengineered gauze with sustained natural product release: synergistic antibacterial, anti-adhesive, and angiogenic therapy for infected wound healing

Wound management faces persistent challenges including bacterial infections, tissue adhesion, and impaired vascularization. Conventional gauzes provide limited protection, while silver-based antimicrobial dressings pose toxicity risks and environmental concerns. Addressing these limitations, a multi-institutional Chinese research team has developed PPCZ@Gauze – a novel nanoengineered dressing that synergistically combines antibacterial, anti-adhesive, and pro-angiogenic functions. This breakthrough was co-first authored by Guifeng Sun, Qian Wang, and Zhou Zhang, with corresponding authors Xing Liu, Chunbiao Wu, Zhenhua Zhou, and Hao Wang.

PPCZ@Gauze is fabricated through a scalable dip-coating process where medical gauze is sequentially functionalized with phytate (PA), ε-polylysine (Ply), curcumin (Cur), and zinc ions (Zn²⁺). Each component contributes distinct therapeutic properties:

ε-Polylysine (FDA GRAS-approved) disrupts bacterial membranes

Phytate enables metal ion chelation and stabilization

Curcumin provides antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activity

Zinc ions activate VEGF-mediated angiogenesis pathways

Comprehensive testing demonstrated exceptional performance:

Antibacterial Action: Achieved >99% elimination of S. aureusand E. coli within 4 hours. SEM imaging confirmed membrane disruption in treated bacteria；

Anti-Adhesion Properties: Hydrophobic curcumin modification significantly increased the water contact angle, markedly reducing blood cell adhesion compared to controls.

Healing Acceleration: In murine wound models, PPCZ@Gauze significantly accelerated epithelial migration compared to conventional gauze. Collagen density increased, while TNF-α and IL-6 expression was substantially reduced.

Pro-Angiogenic Effects: Immunofluorescence analysis for CD31 and α-SMA confirmed enhanced neovascularization, a critical process for nutrient delivery during wound healing.

PPCZ@Gauze offers significant economic and safety advantages over commercial silver dressings. For instance, while the premium silver dressing Atrauman® Ag costs ≈98,000 CNY/m² and ordinary medical gauze is priced at 6.25 CNY/m², PPCZ@Gauze is manufactured at a cost of only ≈33.33 CNY/m². This substantial cost reduction (compared to silver dressings) is achieved while completely avoiding the toxicity concerns associated with silver. Furthermore, the roll-to-roll manufacturing process (Figure 8C) enables efficient large-scale production, and compatibility with standard sterilization methods (autoclaving, ethylene oxide, UV) ensures seamless clinical integration.

"PPCZ@Gauze represents a paradigm shift in wound management," noted corresponding author Hao Wang. "We're initiating industrial partnerships for GMP production and planning clinical trials for diabetic ulcers and burn applications." The technology holds particular promise for battlefield medicine where rapid, infection-resistant wound coverage is critical.

Funding was provided by Shanghai Special Project on Artificial Intelligence Facilitating the Reform of Scientific Research Paradigms to Empower Disciplinary Advancement (No. Z-2024-114-022), the Horizontal Project of Fuzhou Water Quality Monitoring Co., Ltd. (No. H-2025-312-012), the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82073266), Science and Technology Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education (No. GJJ2201639), and the Doctoral Research Start-up Fund Project of Jinggangshan University (No. JZB2117).

About Nano Research

Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.