Synergistic phage-antibiotic functionalized advanced wound dressing for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

Synergistic phage-antibiotic functionalized advanced wound dressing for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Synergistic phage-antibiotic functionalized advanced wound dressing for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection Lavanya Khullar, Jatin Chadha, Kusum Harjai, Vasundhara Singh, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Polymers and the Environment → Version 1 posted 21 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Treatment of wound infections has been a matter of concern due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). To counter this problem, phage therapy has been revitalized as an alternative strategy to combat AMR. The present study aimed to fabricate phage (PAΦ)-gentamicin (GeN)-loaded biodegradable and biocompatible composite made from complex polysaccharides, chitosan and alginate, to thwart wound infections associated with PA. Chitosan-alginate (CA) scaffold was examined for in vitro attributes: water adsorption ability, antibacterial potential, and cell cytotoxicity. The findings revealed that 1:1 blended wound dressing exhibited ideal swelling index (1887%), protein adsorption (845.8 ± 47.1 µg/cm 2 ), and biodegradability within 7 days (40.2 ± 4.31%), demonstrating hemocompatibility and biocompatibility. The dressing showed broad range antibacterial activity against standard and clinical strains of PA, which was stable up to 6 months. Further, the CA composite containing GeN and PAΦ was capable of eliminating PA infection within 21 days alongside enhancing the process of wound healing in a thermal injury infection model. In summary, advanced wound dressings loaded with phage and/or drug harbouring antimicrobial activity and wound healing potential can prove to be a promising alternative to traditional cotton gauges and existing wound care products. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages advanced wound dressing biodegradable & biocompatible composite antibacterial dressings wound healing. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Supplementarydata.doc Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Polymers and the Environment → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 07 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 02 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 31 Aug, 2025 Reviews received at journal 30 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 29 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 29 Aug, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 25 Aug, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 25 Aug, 2025 First submitted to journal 23 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7442430","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":509850960,"identity":"d3b549bf-678a-43f8-b5ef-8f6cac562baf","order_by":0,"name":"Lavanya Khullar","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Panjab University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lavanya","middleName":"","lastName":"Khullar","suffix":""},{"id":509850963,"identity":"07dc8c7b-f6f7-4085-bcad-dd2882b2f156","order_by":1,"name":"Jatin Chadha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Panjab University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jatin","middleName":"","lastName":"Chadha","suffix":""},{"id":509850964,"identity":"ed577fee-cd3f-48cd-a609-b5db73efc279","order_by":2,"name":"Kusum Harjai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Panjab University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kusum","middleName":"","lastName":"Harjai","suffix":""},{"id":509850966,"identity":"ad752aff-300b-49ec-bb1c-09614d6c721f","order_by":3,"name":"Vasundhara Singh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University)","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vasundhara","middleName":"","lastName":"Singh","suffix":""},{"id":509850967,"identity":"aa5e38b4-b5f6-4a35-a0f4-0ad85bf85690","order_by":4,"name":"Sanjay Chhibber","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABC0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACAyBOMGDmYQPSNnIgkQMPSNCSZgzWkkCETQkGDGAthxMbwFw8SuXbzx4o+Nlml2fOznvswcc9aenzww4/BNpiJ6fbgMNRZ/ISDHvbkostm/nSDWc8s8ndeDvNAKgl2djsAC5/5BgY8LYdSNxwmMdMmudAWu7G2QkgLQcSt+HQIt//xsDwL0zLnwOH0w1np3/Aq4XhRo6BMdwWhgOHE+Slc/DbYnDjjYGxzLlkoBagX3oOpBlukM4pOJBggNsv8v05ZoZvyuwSN5w/e+zBjwM28vKz0zd/+FBhJ4dLCxCwGTCyIdt7ABIs+ADzA4Y/yPY24FU9CkbBKBgFIxAAACYKaBrUICmkAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Panjab University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sanjay","middleName":"","lastName":"Chhibber","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-23 16:23:22","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-025-03744-9","type":"published","date":"2026-01-12T16:30:28+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":100614916,"identity":"93897ce5-5984-479a-9b45-ee692ebc7a00","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-19 17:28:24","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1600213,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7442430/v1_covered_374385be-db42-4b1f-b83d-fc1b3492e288.pdf"},{"id":90663995,"identity":"0a7290d2-c485-4a84-a543-44ec8a85e9a1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-05 12:09:45","extension":"doc","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":21031936,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Supplementarydata.doc","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7442430/v1/c19855a3ba02eb4b650dc37a.doc"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Synergistic phage-antibiotic functionalized advanced wound dressing for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymers-and-the-environment","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jooe","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymers and the Environment](https://www.springer.com/journal/10924)","snPcode":"10924","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10924/3","title":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteriophages, advanced wound dressing, biodegradable \u0026 biocompatible composite, antibacterial dressings, wound healing.","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eTreatment of wound infections has been a matter of concern due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens like \u003cem\u003ePseudomonas aeruginosa\u003c/em\u003e (PA). To counter this problem, phage therapy has been revitalized as an alternative strategy to combat AMR. The present study aimed to fabricate phage (PAΦ)-gentamicin (GeN)-loaded biodegradable and biocompatible composite made from complex polysaccharides, chitosan and alginate, to thwart wound infections associated with PA. Chitosan-alginate (CA) scaffold was examined for \u003cem\u003ein vitro\u003c/em\u003e attributes: water adsorption ability, antibacterial potential, and cell cytotoxicity. The findings revealed that 1:1 blended wound dressing exhibited ideal swelling index (1887%), protein adsorption (845.8 ± 47.1 µg/cm\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e), and biodegradability within 7 days (40.2 ± 4.31%), demonstrating hemocompatibility and biocompatibility. The dressing showed broad range antibacterial activity against standard and clinical strains of PA, which was stable up to 6 months. Further, the CA composite containing GeN and PAΦ was capable of eliminating PA infection within 21 days alongside enhancing the process of wound healing in a thermal injury infection model. In summary, advanced wound dressings loaded with phage and/or drug harbouring antimicrobial activity and wound healing potential can prove to be a promising alternative to traditional cotton gauges and existing wound care products.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Synergistic phage-antibiotic functionalized advanced wound dressing for combating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-05 12:09:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7442430/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-09-13T11:39:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-08T15:10:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-08T14:47:53+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-07T06:57:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-03T18:10:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-03T17:33:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-03T13:26:25+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-02T15:26:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"235554031330284636161449613693543231925","date":"2025-09-01T01:59:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"100898079852211278506798307464896947371","date":"2025-08-31T14:32:58+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-08-30T17:50:15+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"197249114508535507713299335268576664482","date":"2025-08-29T20:53:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"112731221522558887373993930987562564895","date":"2025-08-29T18:43:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"4631608214049082069235452186489875714","date":"2025-08-29T15:43:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"197828270677507593835666840660578006059","date":"2025-08-29T14:58:41+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"24768497872503361091540136906657464880","date":"2025-08-29T14:51:22+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"655438430981961195737133718281898756","date":"2025-08-29T14:03:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-29T13:54:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-26T03:27:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-08-26T03:26:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","date":"2025-08-23T16:18:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymers-and-the-environment","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jooe","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymers and the Environment](https://www.springer.com/journal/10924)","snPcode":"10924","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10924/3","title":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"816f4516-097e-46bc-a7c3-cd9e06a42049","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 5th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-19T16:50:18+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7442430","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-025-03744-9","journal":{"identity":"journal-of-polymers-and-the-environment","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Journal of Polymers and the Environment"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-12 16:30:28","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 12th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-05 12:09:39","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s10924-025-03744-9","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-025-03744-9","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7442430","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7442430","identity":"rs-7442430","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}