STMP-Crosslinked Chitosan/Cellulose Ether Composite Membranes for Enhanced Wound Healing

The rise of antibiotic resistance necessitates the development of non-antibiotic antibacterial dressings with high biocompatibility and reliable wound-repair performance. In this work, chitosan/cellulose ether composite antibacterial membranes (CCE-ACM) were fabricated from chitosan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose, and further reinforced through sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) cross-linking. Response-surface optimization enabled the construction of a compact phosphodiester-linked network with improved mechanical strength, controlled swelling behavior, and stable moisture regulation. The membranes exhibited excellent cytocompatibility (> 80% viability) and strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , with the optimized CHEPCS formulation showing the most pronounced inhibition. In vivo, CCE-ACM significantly accelerated wound closure, achieving near-complete healing by Day 15 and promoting reduced inflammation, enhanced re-epithelialization, and more mature collagen deposition. These results demonstrate that the optimized CHEPCS membrane integrates effective antibacterial activity, favorable biocompatibility, and enhanced wound-healing performance, representing a promising non-antibiotic dressing for advanced wound care applications.