journal article·2026-06-10Open access

Microblasting Wound Dressings Mechanically Disrupt Polymicrobial Biofilms to Enhance Healing in Treatment‐Resistant Wounds

Yujin Ahn, Joo Hun Lee, Christian Hurd, Jiye Lee, Junggeon Park, Adam A. Markowicz, Zheyuan Zhang, Joanne Hwang, Guillermo L. Monroy, Simon A. Rogers, Woonggyu Jung, Stephen A. Boppart, Hyunjoon Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT Treatment‐resistant wounds driven by polymicrobial biofilms are a major clinical challenge, affecting millions globally and leading to chronic inflammation, persistent pain, and poor healing outcomes. These wounds are characterized by mature biofilms reinforced by dense extracellular polymeric substances, which confer strong tolerance to conventional treatments. Despite emerging technologies, such as nanoparticles, bacteriophages, and engineered enzymes, effective clearance of established biofilms remains challenging. Here, we develop a microblasting wound dressing (µBLAST) that delivers spatially confined mechano‐chemical disruption at the tissue‐biofilm interface to remove viscoelastic biofilm matrices and promote tissue regeneration. The µBLAST is assembled by embedding MnO 2 ‐doped diatom biosilica beneath an H 2 O 2 ‐releasing cellulose mesh, enabling localized catalytic microbubble generation within biofilm matrices. Confined expansion and rupture of oxygen bubbles produce localized mechanical stress sufficient to dislodge mature, antibiotic‐resistant polymicrobial biofilms, while sustained H 2 O 2 release prolongs particle activity. In a murine wound model infected with mature P. aeruginosa and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus biofilms, µBLAST treatment significantly reduces biofilm burden, accelerates re‐epithelialization, promotes hair regrowth, and mitigates inflammation. Moreover, µBLAST enhances antibiotic efficacy, suppressing biofilm regrowth even at ten‐fold reduced drug doses. These findings highlight confined mechano‐chemical biofilm disruption as a therapeutic strategy for treating mature, antibiotic‐resistant biofilm infections and promoting tissue regeneration.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing · Wound Healing and Treatments · Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USA

Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Chicago Chicago Illinois USA

Department of Bioengineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USA

Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USA

Deparment of Biomedical Engineering Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Ulsan Republic of Korea

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USA

NIH/NIBIB Center for Label‐free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics (CLIMB) University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana Illinois USA

Funding

National Science Foundation · National Institutes of Health · Korea Health Industry Development Institute

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