Engineering an Alginate Hydrogel System for Biofilm Disruption in Chronic Wound Infections

Overview

Millions of people are affected by chronic wounds each year because they are extremely difficult to treat due to protective biofilms that block treatment. Current wound care methods are often expensive, generate significant medical waste, and can be ineffective against biofilms, making treatment less accessible and less environmentally sustainable. In this project, we designed EDTA-loaded hydrogel systems using both alginate and gelatin matrices. These hydrogels act as controlled delivery platforms, regulating the release of EDTA over time to disrupt biofilms and enhance bacterial susceptibility. Our results showed that the sequential-release patch removed more biofilm extremely efficiently. This suggests that timing treatments correctly can make them much more effective. Our design offers a low-cost, biodegradable, and more effective way to treat chronic wounds and reduce medical waste.

Awards (1)

• Selected for CWSF 2026

Competition history

• CWSF 2026 Disease & Illness

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