A molecular engineering slippery dressing with minimal adhesion and antibacterial property

Wound infection is a major cause of death during the wound healing process. Improperly dressed wounds will lead to secondary injury, which not only prolongs healing time but also imposes a high infection risk. Here, we propose an antibacterial slippery dressing through molecular engineering of copper ions. The oil layer can form a barrier to reduce clot adhesion to the wound site and prevent environmental contamination. Single-cell level detection indicates that the secreted copper ions induce bacterial death not only by disrupting membrane integrity but also by relying on the production of reactive oxygen species. Further membrane depolarization and adenosine triphosphate production blockage result in the aggregation of important proteins in various biological processes, such as metabolic homeostasis, which ultimately leads to bacterial death. The animal model confirms that our dressing could accelerate wound healing by promoting the growth of granulation tissue and collagen deposition. Our dressing demonstrates significant clinical implications for the design of next-generation therapeutic applications.