Developing easy-to-use, cost-effective wound dressing material by coating commercial cotton bandages with nanomaterials

Abstract Commercial cotton gauze bandages are applied on wounds to prevent contact with dust and/or pathogens, while ensuring enough aeration for accelerated wound healing. More often than not, these bandages are used in conjunction with antiseptic (topical) agents to avoid any post-dressing infections. Additionally, healing medications need to be orally administered to accelerate the healing process and manage the pain. Mechanical debridement remains a problem upon removal of the wound dressing material which leads to delayed healing. In the present work, commercial bandages have been modified to have anti-microbial properties and the capability of localised drug delivery to minimise the local pain and post-dressing infections at a wound site. To achieve this diclofenac sodium (an anti-inflammatory drug) loaded biodegradable, polycaprolactone-based nanofibrous mat has been layered on top of a commercial cotton bandage whose surface has been modified with the coating of chitosan and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The chitosan coating over the cotton gauze bandage brings in the antibacterial properties, while the zinc oxide nanoparticles provide ultra-violet protection. The drug loaded nanofibrous mat releases diclofenac sodium under a simulated wound microenvironment. The article delineates the nanomaterials on cotton gauze bandages as an effective alternative to commonly used cotton gauze bandages for wound dressing applications.