The treatment of chronic wounds is critically challenged by resilient biofilms formed by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, which are largely impervious to conventional antibiotics. This study addresses this challenge by engineering a multifunctional hydrogel dressing that synergistically integrates bacterial cellulose (BC), MXene nanosheets, and hydroxyapatite (HAp). Plays a critical dual role in the composite, significantly boosting bioactivity while also stabilizing the MXene to prevent oxidation and maintain its antibacterial properties. As a result, the BC/MXene/HAp composite achieved a near-total (98%) eradication of viable cells in mature biofilms of challenging MDR pathogens, including MRSA and FQRPA. Such activity is driven by a dual-mechanism that effectively disrupts both the initial attachment of bacteria and the structural scaffold of established biofilms. Complementing this efficacy, in vitro assays with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts confirm that the composite supports excellent cell adhesion, proliferation, and metabolic activity, highlighting its high biocompatibility. This work demonstrates a nonantibiotic strategy to combat biofilms through a synergistically designed biomaterial. Given its robust performance and multifunctionality, this platform is a promising candidate for the development of advanced therapeutic dressings in regenerative wound care.
Talipova et al. (Fri,) studied this question.