The influence of operating parameters on the drug release and anti-bacterial performances of alginate wound dressings prepared by three-dimensional plotting

Three-dimensional plotting was used to manufacture fibrous alginate hydrogel wound dressings. Samples manufactured using varied operating parameters (increased air pressure, nozzle diameter, and layer increment or decreased calcium concentration, alginate concentration, and speed of the nozzle in the x and y directions) were compared to the control samples. The changes in the fiber size, porosity, tensile properties, degradation, swelling ratio, tetracycline release efficacy, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and bacterial inhibition potential due to alterations of the operating parameters were measured. The samples manufactured using altered operating parameters had larger fiber sizes and were less porous than the controls (p < 0.05). A significantly higher Young's modulus, a larger ultimate tensile strength, less degradation, and lower swelling ratios were also found among some of the altered samples (p < 0.05). The tetracycline release efficacies and bacterial inhibition potentials of the altered samples were not found to be significantly different from those of the controls. The WVTRs of most samples were slightly lower than those of common commercial dressings. When compared to films, the fibrous samples were able to absorb liquid faster and were less stiff, allowing for better conformation to the contours of the wounds. The fibrous samples also provided more sustained tetracycline release.