Sustainable wheat gluten foams used in self-expansion medical dressings

Wheat gluten (WG) foam was successfully prepared by heating, stirring and freeze-drying. The effects of WG concentration, content of glycerol and glutaraldehyde on the macroscopic appearance, microstructure, swelling property and self-expansion, as well as mechanical compressibility, were studied. Results showed that the density and structure of foam can be changed by adjusting the concentration of WG, glycerol, and glutaraldehyde. The addition of glycerol softens the WG foams, while glutaraldehyde significantly improved their mechanical properties and stability in wet state. The swollen foams were repeatedly pressed and exhibited rapid water-triggered shape recovery performance (less than 3 ​s). Moreover, WG foams displayed excellent biodegradability and hemocompatibility. In vitro studies of drug loading and release were performed using an antibacterial drug, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), and showed sustained drug-release activity. The above advantages make the foams hold great potential for application in self-expanding, antibacterial hemostatic medical dressings.