3D-Printed Methacrylated Gelatin–Lignin Carbon\nDot Hydrogel Combined with PLA Nanofibers for Wound Dressings

Traditional wound\ndressings have limitations in terms of their\nantibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as their ability\nto maintain a moist wound environment. Addressing these deficiencies\nwith innovative biomaterials, such as hydrogels combined with nanomaterials,\ncan accelerate healing and perform a variety of functions in advanced\nbiomedical materials. In this study, 3D-printed hydrogel membranes\nwere designed and combined with nanofibrous PLA mats produced by the\nsolution blow spinning technique (SBS) for use as a bilayered wound\ndressing. These membranes were manufactured from gelatin modified\nwith methacrylamide groups (GMA), incorporated with bioactive lignin\ncarbon dots (CDs), and cross-linked using ultraviolet (UV) light.\nThe GMA membranes with the addition of lignin CDs showed antimicrobial\nactivity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and greater\nmechanical deformation when combined with the PLA fibrous mats, in\naddition to not causing cytotoxic effects in human fibroblasts. Furthermore,\nthe developed material was capable of maintaining a persistent hydrated\nenvironment in the wound area with adequate degradation capacity.\nOur results demonstrate the potential for manufacturing multifunctional\nwound dressings utilizing biodegradable and sustainable nanomaterials\nthat are both cost-effective and straightforward to produce, with\napplications in biomedical fields, including the treatment of skin\nwound infections.