Synthesis and pharmacodynamic properties of cellulose-based anisotropic drug sustained release hydrogel dressing

New dressings represent a hot topic at the intersection of pharmacy, materials science, and medicine. The development of dressings with excellent biocompatibility, pharmacological activity, and mechanical properties is a new trend in this field. This study utilizes wood-based materials with inherent biocompatibility as the substrate. The ice crystal-induced phase separation method is employed to remove the tough lignin components, resulting in a three-dimensional micro-nano network structure of cellulose-hemicellulose matrix. Molecular injection is used to embed natural bioactive molecules tannin and auxiliary molecules polyvinyl alcohol in the matrix. Through multiple dynamic hydrogen bonding interactions, a novel dressing (de-lignin gel with PVA added, PLG) with both mechanical strength and biological activity is prepared. Various technical methods are employed to characterize the structure of PLG and investigate its bioactive functions. The results indicate that the designed PLG synthesis route is reasonable. The successfully obtained PLG exhibits excellent anisotropic mechanical strength and fatigue resistance (energy dissipation of 22.8 kPa·mm^-1). It also features a low linear expansion rate, outstanding adhesion capability, and anti-swelling properties. Antimicrobial experiments show that PLG exhibits antibacterial rates of 74.3% and 77.6% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. This indicates its broad-spectrum contact antibacterial effect. The radical scavenging rate of PLG reached 95.88%. Combined with mouse wound healing experiments, it was confirmed that PLG effectively reduces inflammatory responses through a dual antioxidant-antibacterial mechanism. The multi-layered structural design and cross-scale performance exploration of the dressing provide meaningful references for developing novel dressings that integrate mechanical adaptability, bioactivity, and multi-functional properties. The animal experiments were approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Zhejiang A & F University (No. ZAFUAC202514). All experiments were carried out strictly in accordance with relevant guiding principles and regulations.