Development of dressing materials with plant-based antimicrobial components

Antimicrobial dressing materials play an important role in the treatment of infected wounds. They help control microbial complications, prevent the development of chronic inflammation, and promote faster skin regeneration. Such materials are used to protect against infection in the treatment of chronic wounds (e.g., trophic ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers), burns, and infected postoperative wounds where there is a high risk of complications. Currently, the potential use of natural substances as antibacterial agents in dressing materials is being actively studied. Scientific data confirm the effectiveness of such substances as propolis, honey, chitosan, and essential oils. These components possess mild but persistent biocidal activity and do not cause side effects. As part of our research, gauze samples treated with two different formulations were exposed to soil microflora to determine the microbiological resistance coefficient. Untreated gauze samples, when exposed to microflora, began to mold and decompose, whereas materials treated with natural biocides showed significantly lower levels of degradation. Particularly high microbiological resistance was observed in samples treated with a formulation based on wormwood extract and chitosan. To assess the morphological changes in the fibers after treatment, a study using a scanning electron microscope was conducted. A uniform distribution of biocidal particles on the fiber surface was observed. At the same time, the air permeability and absorbency of the treated gauze materials remained largely unchanged.