A newly developed nanostructure resembling a carnation could one day enhance wound healing through advanced bandages.
This elegant nanoflower adds antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm properties when applied to electrospun nanofiber bandages. Image Credit: Adapted from ACS Applied Bio Materials 2025
Researchers reporting in ACS Applied Bio Materials have tested nanoflower-coated dressings in the lab, demonstrating their antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and biocompatible properties. Their findings suggest that these tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate-based nanoflower bandages could be a promising option for treating infections and inflammatory conditions.
Nanoflowers are tiny, self-assembling structures, yet their large surface area makes them particularly effective for carrying and delivering drug molecules. When designing their bandage-friendly nanoflowers, Fatemeh Ahmadpoor, Pier Francesco Ferrari, and their team selected copper(II) phosphate and tannic acid for their well-known antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties. After growing the nanostructures in a saline solution, the researchers incorporated them into electrospun nanofiber fabric strips.
Laboratory tests showed that these nanoflower-coated bandages effectively inactivated a broad spectrum of bacteria, including E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, along with their antibiotic-resistant biofilms. The bandages also demonstrated antioxidant properties by scavenging reactive oxygen species, all while remaining safe for lab-grown human cells.
Ahmadpoor and Ferrari emphasize that these nanoflower-coated dressings offer a natural, cost-effective, and efficient approach to infection control and wound healing. Their work highlights the potential for these materials to improve treatment outcomes and set new standards in medical care.
The authors acknowledge funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research.
Journal Reference:
Ahmadpoor, F., et al. (2025) Self-assembled Nanoflowers from Natural Building Blocks with Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Properties. ACS Applied Bio Materials. doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.4c00788.