Natural antimicrobial polymeric coatings for contamination resistant wound dressings: biocompatibility and in vivo efficacy against MRSA

(MRSA). The coated wound dressing significantly reduced bacterial burden in the wound bed, achieving a 5.39-log reduction compared to the un-coated control. The silicone-covered prototype also showed a moderate but significant antimicrobial effect (1.69-log reduction). Bioluminescence imaging and CFU analysis confirmed the efficacy of both dressings, with minimal bacterial attachment to the wound contact layer (WCL). The coatings did not interfere with the exudate extraction, wound contact control and wound protection functions of the full prototypes. These findings demonstrate that the bioactive coating effectively limits bacterial proliferation and dampens biofilm formation, with the coated dressing showing the most potent effects. This work supports the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial, self-assembling biopolymer coated dressings as a prophylactic strategy to prevent biofilm-associated infections and excessive immune activation in acute wound settings.