Ca2+ crosslinked gelatin-sodium alginate film loaded with berberine hydrochloride that can effectively promote wound healing of MRSA infection

Wound infections are a primary cause of delayed wound healing, and film dressings have garnered significant attention in wound management. However, the development of biologically sourced and green-synthesized film dressings with rapid antimicrobial functionality remains an urgent technological breakthrough. In this study, we successfully developed gelatin sodium alginate/sea sheath molecularly modified berberine hydrochloride film (GS/CB). The incorporation of sea sheath powder significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the gelatin‑sodium alginate film.The calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) provided by the sea sheath create a cross-linking effect within the sodium alginate-gelatin network, resulting in tensile properties of the GS/CB films that are 2.6 times greater than those of the control films. This enhancement allows the films to meet the requirements for wound applications. In in vitro antimicrobial experiments, the films incorporated with sodium oleate-modified berberine hydrochloride showed good antimicrobial effects, with an inhibition rate of 97.79 % against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) and 98.57 % against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ). In in vivo wound healing experiments, the film effectively eliminated MRSA from the wound, achieving a bacterial clearance rate of 98.5 %. Compared to transparent film dressings, the GS/CB film demonstrated superior wound care efficacy and significantly accelerated wound healing. Furthermore, both in vivo and in vitro tests indicated that the film possesses excellent biocompatibility. Therefore, the GS/CB film holds great potential and application value as a new wound dressing for the treatment of infectious wounds.