Silver-Loaded Konjac Glucomannan/Silk Protein Sponges with Antibacterial and Wound Healing Properties

In this study, a novel composite sponge composed of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and silk fibroin (SF) was fabricated, with citric acid (CA) employed as a crosslinker and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) incorporated to enhance antimicrobial performance. Through CA-mediated crosslinking and freeze-drying, an interpenetrating porous structure was generated, leading to significant improvements in mechanical integrity and structural stability. Optimization of the ratios of KGM, SF, and CA resulted in strengthened intermolecular interactions, which contributed to superior water absorption, retention capacity, rheological behavior, and antibacterial activity. The incorporation of Ag NPs endowed the composite with strong bacteriostatic properties, while in vitro cytocompatibility assays confirmed favorable biocompatibility. Moreover, in vivo wound healing and ex vivo hemostasis studies in animal models demonstrated enhanced tissue regeneration and effective hemostatic capability. In conclusion, these results indicate that the KGM/SF/Ag NPs composite sponge possesses considerable potential as a multifunctional wound dressing for clinical application. Graphical In this study, a novel composite sponge composed of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and sericin (SF) was utilized, with citric acid (CA) serving as the crosslinking agent. Its excellent properties were demonstrated through characterization methods including UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM. Notably, the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) significantly enhanced the antimicrobial properties. The prepared sponge also demonstrated the ability to promote wound healing and angiogenesis.