Plasma-Polymerized Antibacterial Coating of Ovine Tendon Collagen Type I Crosslinked with Genipin and Dehydrothermal-Crosslinked as a Cutaneous Substitute for Wound Healing

The study investigates the development of an enhanced acellular skin substitute using ovine tendon collagen type I (OTC-I) crosslinked with genipin (GNP) and dehydrothermal treatment (DHT) to improve mechanical strength and stability. Plasma-polymerised antibacterial coatings using carvone oil were applied to enhance antibacterial properties. The results indicate that GNP crosslinked scaffolds, particularly those with plasma polymerisation (GNPppCar), demonstrated superior mechanical properties, antibacterial effectiveness against E. coli and S. aureus, and noncytotoxicity to human skin cells, making them promising candidates for wound healing applications. The study highlights the importance of optimizing plasma polymerisation conditions to minimize scaffold degradation and improve biomedical potential.