Plant-based wound dressing fights infection before it takes hold
· Medical Xpressedited by Swati Mestri, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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A new dressing made from plant-based materials can deliver antibiotics directly to wounds during critical early stages of infection, according to researchers from the University of Bath. The study, published in Bioactive Materials, is the first to use this family of sustainable furan-based polymers, previously explored for sustainable plastics and packaging, for infection-fighting wound dressings.
Wound infections are a major challenge for health care systems worldwide and are estimated to cost the NHS alone billions every year. Bacteria can enter a wound and begin forming a protective, slimy layer known as a biofilm within hours, slowing healing and making infections much harder to treat.
The team from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Chemistry created a novel, two-sided dressing from sustainable polymers, plastic-like materials sourced from plants rather than petrochemicals. One side of the dressing rapidly releases antibiotics into the wound, while the other acts as a barrier to maintain the protected healing environment.
The novel dressing intervenes in the early window before the biofilm grows, when treatment is most effective. It quickly releases the antibiotic and reaches effective concentrations within four hours, reducing biofilm formation by more than 90%.
A two-sided material
Unlike many advanced wound dressings that rely on petroleum-based plastics or additional chemical treatments, this dressing is made simply from two plant-based layers that have different properties. Two types of plant-based polymer are spun into a thin mesh of microscopic fibers. On the wound-facing side, the commonly used antibiotic tetracycline is incorporated. The outer side of the dressing repels water to moderate moisture loss and promote healing.
Dr. Xiang Ding, the study's lead author, said, "The two materials we used are very similar chemically; they differ by only two carbon atoms, but by spinning them into ultrafine fibers, we can amplify these tiny molecular differences into dramatically different behaviors.
"This allowed us to create a smart, two-sided dressing without any additional chemical modification, simultaneously guiding the antibiotic toward the wound while helping to prevent unnecessary loss of the drug away from the injury site and providing a barrier to protect the wound."
Fighting infection-causing bacteria
The multidisciplinary team from Bath, together with collaborators from the University of Bristol and Newcastle University, tested the dressing against two common wound-infecting bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results from lab tests using model wounds showed a significant reduction in bacterial growth and biofilm formation after application of the dressing. The material is also compatible with human skin cells, showing no signs of toxicity in laboratory testing.
The study demonstrates how plant-based materials previously developed for sustainable plastics and packaging applications could be adapted for advanced health care technologies. While further development and testing will be needed before any clinical use, the findings highlight the potential for more sustainable wound care technologies without compromising performance.
Publication details
Xiang Ding et al, Janus electrospun nanofiber membranes from bio-based furan polyamides for antibacterial wound care, Bioactive Materials (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.06.022
Journal information: Bioactive Materials
Key medical concepts
TetracyclineBiofilmsStaphylococcus aureus
Clinical categories
Common illnesses & Prevention Provided by University of Bath Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
Andrew Zinin
Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →
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