Dextran-altered foaming bacterial cellulose with Botryocladia leptopoda extract in a wound-dressing application

In this study, we developed a dextran-modified foaming bacterial cellulose (FBC) hydrogel that utilized foam medium with dextran in situ. The resulting dextran/FBC hydrogel exhibited a high water content (92.3%–94.2%) and enhanced epithelial cell proliferation compared to unmodified FBC (79.1% vs. 68.4%). Furthermore, the combination of dextran/FBC with Botryocladia leptopoda extract (AE) further improved cell proliferation to 97.1%. In vivo wound-healing experiments in mice demonstrated that AE-loaded dextran/FBC achieved the most effective wound remodeling, with a normal epidermal thickness and regeneration of functional structures such as pores and hair follicles by day 12. This biomaterial can be directly produced from microbial biosynthesis with no post-modification. Its biodegradability, sustainable green production process, and great wound-remodeling capacity highlight its potential as a novel moist wound dressing.