Scalable synthesis of robust and stretchable composite wound dressings by dispersing silver nanowires in continuous bacterial cellulose

While silver nanoparticles are widely used to endow materials with antibacterial activity, silver nanowires (AgNWs) have not attracted much attention. Herein, the composites of bacterial cellulose (BC) and AgNWs were prepared through a novel step-by-step in situ biosynthesis which retains the three-dimensional network of BC. The results of water vapor permeability, water uptake rate, and water retention rate showed that the BC/AgNW wound dressings could absorb wound skin exudates and maintain moisture environments. Furthermore, the BC/AgNW dressings were robust and stretchable. More importantly, the BC/AgNW dressings exhibited sustained release of Ag+. The results from animal tests indicated that the BC/AgNW dressing with 38.4 wt% AgNWs exhibited higher expression levels of cytokeratin-10 and integrin-β4, greater proliferation of keratinocytes and formation of epithelial tissues and greatly improved skin regeneration over the bare BC. We propose that the integrated nanofibrous structure and the excellent and sustained antibacterial activity of AgNWs are responsible for the excellent in vivo wound healing ability and biocompatibility. These results suggest that the BC/AgNW composites have promising application as wound dressings. [Display omitted] •Silver nanowires (AgNWs) and bacterial cellulose (BC) were integrated to obtain an advanced wound dressing.•The BC/AgNW dressing exhibited sustained release of silver ions.•The BC/AgNW dressing is robust, stretchable, antibacterial, and biocompatible.•The BC/AgNW dressing showed improved in vivo skin regeneration over bare BC.