Chronic
wounds represent silent epidemic affecting a large portion of the world population, especially the elders; in this context, the development of advanced bioactive dressings is imperative to accelerate wound healing process, while contrasting or preventing
infections. The aim of the present work was to provide a deep characterization of the functional and biopharmaceutical properties of a sustainable thin and flexible films, composed of
whey proteins alone (WPI) and added with nanostructured
zinc oxide (WPZ) and intended for the management of chronic
wounds. The potential of
whey proteins-based films as
wound dressings has been confirmed by their wettability, hydration properties, elastic behavior upon hydration, biodegradation propensity and, when added with nanostructured
zinc oxide, antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In-vitro experiments, performed on normal human dermal fibroblasts, confirmed film cytocompatibility, also revealing the possible role of Zn2+
ions in promoting fibroblast proliferation. Finally, in-vivo studies on rat model confirmed film suitability to act as
wound dressing, since able to ensure a regular healing process while providing effective protection from
infections. In particular, both films WPI and WPZ are responsible for the formation in the
wound bed of a continuous
collagen layer similar to that of healthy skin.