Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New wound dressing slowly releases metronidazole with strong support
By Abubakar AA et al.·2026·Department of Industrial Chemistry·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Combined metronidazole delivery from a WS<sub>2</sub>-halloysite nanotube-loaded electrospun cellulose acetate membrane supported by a 3D-printed PLA/cassava fiber mesh.
Plain-English summary
Researchers have developed a new type of wound dressing made from natural materials that can slowly release a medication called metronidazole, which is used to treat infections. This dressing combines a special membrane made from cellulose acetate with a strong backing made from a 3D-printed mesh of polylactic acid and cassava fiber. The new dressing is stronger and can handle higher temperatures without breaking down compared to the membrane alone. In tests, it released the medication more effectively over time and showed some ability to reduce bacteria that can cause infections. Overall, this new dressing shows promise for helping wounds heal better, but more studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness in real-life situations.
Abstract
Wound dressings derived from natural resources are increasingly of interest for good health and well-being. Here, an electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) composite membrane (E) was developed as a topical drug carrier for sustained delivery, enabled by incorporating tungsten disulfide (WS<sub>2</sub>) and halloysite nanotubes (HNT). To improve mechanical robustness and support industry innovation in advanced biomedical manufacturing, a dual-layer system (3D/E) was fabricated by electrospinning the E membrane onto a 3D-printed poly(lactic acid)/cassava fiber mesh. With the mesh as a backing layer, 3D/E exhibited higher dry-state tensile strength (6.0 ± 0.2 MPa) and Young's modulus (302 ± 12 MPa) than E alone (0.8 ± 0.1 MPa and 22 ± 3 MPa, respectively). 3D/E maintained thermal integrity over typical service temperatures and showed no degradation up to 150 <sup>ο</sup>C. Metronidazole (MET) release from MET-loaded CA-based samples was biphasic; notably, 3D/E/MET showed a slower initial release (0-6 h) and higher cumulative release (∼74-93%) over 48 h than CA/MET (∼72-77%), attributed to the combined effects of WS<sub>2</sub> and HNT. In a PrestoBlue™ assay, human adipose-derived stem cells on 3D/E/MET showed a time-dependent increase in viability from Day 1 (∼44%) to Day 5 (∼75%), indicating recovery over time. Antibacterial testing showed a moderate reduction against Staphylococcus aureus at 24 h (13.76 ± 0.11 log CFU/mL) versus the control (14.92 ± 0.07 log CFU/mL). Overall, 3D/E offers improved mechanical and thermal performance with extended MET release and moderate in vitro antibacterial activity, supporting further evaluation for wound healing applications.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42025724