Vacuum sealing drainage system combined with an antibacterial jackfruit aerogel wound dressing and 3D printed fixation device for infections of skin soft tissue injuries

Injuries and infections of skin and soft tissue are commonly encountered in primary health care and are challenging to manage. Vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) is generally used in clinical treatment, but current commercial methods of VSD have some disadvantages, such as easy blockage, nonantibacterial effects, and inconvenient curved surfaces. Herein, we report a functional zinc oxide/jackfruit aerogel (ZnO/JFA) composite material that is ultralight, superabsorbent and antibacterial as a new antibacterial VSD wound dressing. The JFA is carbonized from fresh jackfruit, and the JFA exhibits superhydrophilicity and superabsorbability. The water absorption rate of JFA was up to 1209.39%, and the SBF absorption rate was up to 1384.22%. The water absorption rate of ZnO/JFA was up to 494.47%, and the SBF absorption rate was up to 473.71%. The JFA and ZnO/JFA possess a pipeline structure, which is beneficial for absorbing wound exudates. In addition, surface modification of nanosized ZnO and its effects on antibacterial properties and biocompatibility were performed. When the concentration of ZnO/JFA was 3.125 mg/mL, the survival rate of human fibroblast cells was close to 80%, while the antibacterial rates against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were up to 99.06%, 75.28% and 93.58%, respectively. Moreover, a 3D printed assisted device was introduced to make the ZnO/JFA wound dressing more attached to the bottom of the wound on a curved surface. An integrated device was formed under the printing mold, and then animal experiments were conducted in vivo. The results showed that a healing rate of almost 100% for infected skin wounds was obtained with this novel VSD device after 14 days, compared to only 79.65% without the VSD device. This novel VSD with a negative pressure suction dressing is beneficial for healing infectious wounds. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]