Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline porous materials with outstanding physical and chemical properties that make them suitable candidates in many fields, such as catalysis, sensing, energy production, and drug delivery. By combining MOFs with polymeric substrates, advanced functional materials are devised with excellent potential for biomedical applications. In this research, Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 (ZIF-8), a zinc-based MOF, was selected together with cellulose, an almost inexhaustible polymeric raw material produced by nature, to prepare cellulose/ZIF-8 composite flat sheets via an in-situ growing single-step method in aqueous media. The composite materials were characterized by several techniques (IR, XRD, SEM, TGA, ICP, and BET) and their antibacterial activity as well as their biocompatibility in a mammalian model system were investigated. The cellulose/ZIF-8 samples remarkably inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative reference strains, and, notably, they proved to be effective against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa presenting different antibiotic resistance profiles. As these pathogens are of primary importance in skin diseases and in the delayed healing of wounds, and the cellulose/ZIF-8 composites met the requirements of biological safety, the herein materials reveal a great potential for use as gauze pads in the management of wound infections. Full article

The eggshell membrane (ESM) is a natural biomaterial with unique physical and mechanical properties that make it a promising candidate for wound-healing applications. However, the ESM’s inherent properties can be enhanced through incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which have been shown to have antimicrobial properties. In this study, commercially produced AgNPs and green-processed AgNPs were incorporated into ESM and evaluated for their physical, biological, and antimicrobial properties for potential dermal application. The ESM was extracted using various techniques, and then treated with either commercially produced AgNPs (Sigma-Aldrich, Poole, UK) or green-synthesized AgNPs (Metalchemy, London, UK) to produce AgNPs-ESM samples. The physical characteristics of the samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the biological properties were assessed through in vitro studies using human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and BJ cells. The SEM analysis of the AgNPs-ESM samples showed localization of AgNPs on the ESM surface, and that the ESM maintained its structural integrity following AgNP incorporation. The FTIR confirmed loading of AgNPs to ESM samples. The biological studies showed that the 5 μg/mL AgNPs-ESM samples were highly biocompatible with both HDFs and BJ cells, and had good viability and proliferation rates. Additionally, the AgNPs-ESM samples demonstrated pro-angiogenic properties in the CAM assay, indicating their potential for promoting new blood vessel growth. Assessment of the antimicrobial activity of the enhanced AgNPs/ESMs was validated using the International Standard ISO 16869:2008 methodology and exploited Cladosporium, which is one of the most commonly identified fungi in wounds, as the test microorganism (≥5 × 10⁶ cells/mL). The AgNPs-ESM samples displayed promising antimicrobial efficacy as evidenced by the measured zone of inhibition. Notably, the green-synthesized AgNPs demonstrated greater zones of inhibition (~17 times larger) compared to commercially available AgNPs (Sigma-Aldrich). Although both types of AgNP exhibited long-term stability, the Metalchemy-modified samples demonstrated a slightly stronger inhibitory effect. Overall, the AgNPs-ESM samples developed in this study exhibited desirable physical, biological, and antimicrobial properties for potential dermal wound-dressing applications. The use of green-processed AgNPs in the fabrication of the AgNPs-ESM samples highlights the potential for sustainable and environmentally friendly wound-healing therapies. Further research is required to assess the long-term biocompatibility and effectiveness of these biomaterials in vivo. Full article