A research team at the University of Bath in the UK has developed a novel wound dressing made entirely of plant-based, sustainable materials that can precisely deliver antibiotics to the wound in the early stages of infection. The dressing features a double-sided design: one side rapidly releases medication to inhibit bacterial colonization, while the other side provides a waterproof barrier, creating a stable environment for wound healing. The research findings were published in the journal *Bioactive Materials*.

Wound infection and the resulting biofilm formation are long-standing challenges for global healthcare systems. Within hours of invading a wound, bacteria secrete mucus to form a protective biofilm, significantly reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics and hindering the healing process. A team from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at the University of Bath has developed a bilayer dressing using two structurally similar but differently performing furan-based polymers via microfiber spinning. The two materials differ by only two carbon atoms, but after ultrafine fiberization, their hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and drug release behaviors significantly diverge, enabling targeted drug delivery without additional chemical modifications.

The dressing, applied close to the wound, has an inner layer loaded with the broad-spectrum antibiotic tetracycline, achieving an effective antibacterial concentration within 4 hours and reducing biofilm formation by more than 90%. The outer layer is waterproof, effectively controlling wound moisture loss and maintaining the microenvironment necessary for healing. Laboratory model tests showed that the dressing significantly inhibited common wound pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while also being compatible with human skin cells, with no cytotoxic reactions observed. 

Dr. Ding Xiang, the study's first author, pointed out: "Previously, these materials were mainly used in the fields of sustainable packaging and plastics. This is the first time that they have been extended to anti-infective wound care. By finely controlling the fiber structure, we amplified the minute molecular differences into significant functional differences, thereby endowing the dressing with intelligent bidirectional properties."

This research was conducted jointly by the University of Bath, the University of Bristol, and Newcastle University. Although further validation is needed before clinical application, the findings demonstrate the feasibility and potential of plant-based polymer materials in high-end medical fields, providing a new pathway for developing next-generation wound repair products that combine environmental friendliness with therapeutic functions.