Antibiofilm Effect of Collagen-Based Material Developed for Wound Dressing

Abstract

The ongoing war in Ukraine and the urgent need to equip military personnel with advanced medical supplies has spurred the exploration of innovative next-generation materials for treating wounds. These materials must possess potent antibacterial properties and are likely to be built upon a biopolymeric base. The surplus collagen-rich waste generated by the leather industry offers an opportunity for collagen extraction and repurposing. Collagen, a biopolymer with widespread applications in cosmetics and medicine, plays a crucial role in wound healing products. It acts not only as a protective barrier against external contaminants but also stimulates fibroblast production and acts as a carrier for antimicrobial agents. The aim of our study was to test antimicrobial effectiveness against opportunistic bacteria of collagen-based material obtained from leather industry waste developed for wound dressing. We adapted a sterilization procedure based on a chloroform protocol. Utilizing chloroform sterilization for collagen preparation demonstrated successful reduction in cell attachment for the studied bacterial strains, suggesting a potential anti-fouling approach for preparing wound dressing materials. This innovative collagen-based wound dressing, boasting antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties, holds promise for future clinical studies and potential utilization in wound treatment.