The antioxidant, antibacterial, and infected wound healing effects of ZnO quantum dots-chitosan biocomposite

This study aimed to develop a novel ZnO-quantum dots-Chitosan biocomposite dressing (CS-ZnO QDs) with improved antioxidant, antibacterial, and potential infected wound healing effects. CS-ZnO QDs were synthesized successfully by incorporating ZnO QDs into chitosan, and in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-biofilms tests were conducted. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of CS-ZnO QDs for infected wound healing were investigated. The results of the character study revealed steady compatibility between chitosan and ZnO QDs. Nonetheless, the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial studies showed that CS-ZnO QDs had better antioxidant activity, inhibitory effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and a vigorous eradication of bacterial biofilms compared to ZnO-QDs and CS alone. CS-ZnO QDs presented stable cyto-compatibility in NIH/3T3s cells. In addition, CS-ZnO QDs facilitated MRSA-infected wound healing by inhibition of bacterial growth, regulation of the NFκB-p65 pathway to alleviate inflammation, improve wound repairing in an adequate environment, and directly enhance re-epithelialization and collagen deposition.