Magnesium-doped bioactive Glass/CMC hydrocolloid dressings promote acute wound repair

Bioactive hydrocolloid dressings that combine exudate management with cell-regulatory functions are attractive for skin wound repair. In this study, a composite hydrocolloid dressing (MgBG/CMC) was fabricated and evaluated for its physicochemical properties and wound-healing performance. MgBG incorporation enhanced the fluid absorption capacity of the CMC matrix. In vivo , MgBG/CMC was associated with faster wound closure in a New Zealand white rabbit ear acute wound model, whereas its additional benefit over CMC alone was limited in a glucocorticoid-impaired chronic wound model established in Sprague-Dawley rats and in subsequent exploratory hypertrophic-scar assessment. In vitro , MgBG extracts selectively increased HaCaT keratinocyte viability while showing minimal effects on dermal fibroblast viability and endothelial tube formation. These results suggest that the current MgBG/CMC formulation may be more suitable for acute wound management than for the impaired-healing and scar-related conditions evaluated in this study, an observation consistent with improved fluid absorption and enhanced keratinocyte responses; however, the relative contributions of ionic dissolution, matrix properties, and other factors remain to be elucidated. Overall, this study presents a simple bioactive hydrocolloid dressing strategy for acute wound management and provides insights into the application boundaries of the current MgBG formulation.