Characterization of a Bioactive Chitosan Dressing: A Comprehensive Solution for Different Wound Healing Phases

Publication Details:

A HN, Kumar A, Agrawal A, Mavely L, Bhatia D. Characterization of a Bioactive Chitosan Dressing: A Comprehensive Solution for Different Wound Healing Phases. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Mar 17;8(3):1921-1933. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.4c01161. Epub 2025 Feb 27. PMID: 40014862.

Key Findings and Data:

  • Wound Healing Mechanisms of MaxioCel (BMG Dressing) at the molecular level – How MaxioCel contribute to all 4 phases of wound healing including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
  • Comparison of MaxioCel Dressing characterizations and wound healing properties with Aquacel Ag+ extra (CMC-Ag) and Aquacel extra (CMC) dressing

Core Results

core-1

Exudate Management – MaxioCel dressing
demonstrates ~ 3x more absorption capacity
than Aquacel Ag+ Extra dressing . Maxiocel
dressing also has higher (~1.5x) fluid
retention ability than Aquacel Ag+ Extra
dressing that helps in prevention of peri
wound maceration.

core-2
Improvement in the wound coverage– MaxioCel dressing retains its size or surface area more effectively after absorbing fluid, whereas the Aquacel Ag+ Extra dressing’s surface area decreases by more than 36% upon fluid absorption. This property helps Maxiocel to cover the entire wound effectively.
image16
High Wet Strength – MaxioCel dressing exhibited ~ 3x higher tensile strength in wet conditions compared with Aquacel Ag+ Extra dressing. This property is crucial for MaxioCel dressings, as it prevents premature disintegration while maintaining ease of removal without causing trauma to the healing tissue.
image12
Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Action – Compared to the initial microbial concentration, MaxioCel dressing showed more than 4 log reduction (>99.99 %) against all tested wound pathogens including drug-resistant and nondrug-resistant bacteria, fungus, yeast (A-Q) after 24 h.
image22
Biofilm removal efficacy– Maxiocel dressing demonstrated removal of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm significantly more than cotton gauze and Aquacel Ag+Extra .
image10
Bacterial Sequestration – Maxiocel dressing demonstrated wound pathogens sequestration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in SEM microscopic analysis
core-3

Hemostasis Property– The phenomena of platelet adhesion, activation, and fibrin formation observed on the fibers of the MaxioCel dressing surface. MaxioCel dressing significantly reduced the whole blood clotting time compared with the control. The average blood clotting time for MaxioCel dressing was 1.66 ± 0.28 min (In vitro study).

The higher zeta potential of Maxiocel dressing helps in charge based interaction with blood components.

core-4

Faster Granulation s Epithelization–MaxioCel dressing provokes platelets to release PDGF-AB more efficiently than Aquacel Ag dressing and PRP alone. PDGF regulates numerous cellular activities involved in the wound healing process including faster granulation process through fibroblast cell activation and proliferation, PDGF also helps in inflammation control, scar prevention.

The migration and proliferation of fibroblast cells increased with time in the scratch assay for Maxiocel dressing, similar to positive control.

core-

Matrix Metalloprotease (MMPs) Sequestration –
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are kind of enzymes that act as scissors on the extracellular matrix or ECM of tissue or skin , and their enzymatic activity disrupts the overall wound-healing progress. In the in vitro ELISA study, MaxioCel dressing demonstrated statistically significant sequestration properties for both MMP-2 and MMP-9 after 24 h of contact time in contrast to control, standard cotton gauze, and Aquacel Ag+ Extra dressing.

Key Insights

  • Currently available marketed wound dressings based on Cellulose, Silk, CMC, Alginate, PVA and silver or PHMB only helps to maintain wound environment or exudate management or provide antimicrobial protection but does not effectively address all phases of wound healing.
  • MaxioCel supports all phases of wound healing with its bioactive properties.
    Phase 1: Hemostasis – Controls Minor Bleeding
    Phase 2: Inflammation – Anti-inflammatory through regulation of interleukin and macrophages
    Phase 3: Proliferation – PDGF release and MMPs sequestration helps in fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix generation respectively, which further promotes granulation and epithelization for faster wound healing.
    Phase 4 : Remodeling – Prevention of scar, optimal moist environment maintaining
  • In addition of support to wound healing phase at the molecular level, superabsorbent and antimicrobial benefits of MaxioCel dressing effectively manage exudate and control infection or biofilm disruption respectively. In summary, the BMG®- based MaxioCel excels in faster wound healing along with exudate management, infection prevention, inflammation control, bleeding control at initial phase and scar prevention, making it ideal for both acute and chronic wounds.
  • MaxioCel found superior to Aquacel Ag+ extra (CMC-Ag) and Aquacel extra (CMC) dressing in several characterizations including exudate management ability, PDGF release ability, fibroblast proliferation, MMPs sequestration capability, wet tensile strength, biofilm removal ability etc.
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