A biocompatible hemostatic and antibacterial gelatin-based wound dressing containing calcium carbonate nanoparticles loaded with gentamicin and curcumin

In this study, a novel gelatin-based wound dressing containing calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles loaded with gentamicin and curcumin was developed and evaluated for its physicochemical, biomechanical, biological, and antimicrobial properties. The dressing exhibited a porous sponge-like structure with interconnected pores, high hydrophilicity with a water contact angle of 15.2°, and adequate mechanical strength, with tensile strength values of 0.096 ± 0.05 MPa in the dry state and 0.083 ± 0.04 MPa after hydration. The scaffold showed progressive biodegradation, reaching approximately 90% degradation by day 10 and nearly complete degradation within 14 days. It also demonstrated excellent blood absorption capacity, absorbing nearly 35–40 times its own weight in blood. In vitro biological evaluation showed no cytotoxicity toward human dermal fibroblasts and negligible hemolytic activity (0.189 ± 0.010%). In addition, the dressing exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with an inhibition zone diameter of 15.74 ± 1.15 mm, a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 106.33 ± 0.89 µg/mL, and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 215.23 ± 1.5 µg/mL. Furthermore, the dressing significantly enhanced early osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase activity after 14 days ( p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the fabricated multifunctional dressing is a promising candidate for infected wound healing applications and may provide supportive properties for bone-related tissue regeneration, particularly in osteomyelitis management.