BelSU Innovates with New SCOBY-Based Wound Dressing

SCOBY, or Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, is a unique microbial consortia of yeast-like fungi and acetic acid bacteria widely recognized for its role in producing kombucha, a popular fermented tea beverage enjoyed around the world.

Beyond its culinary uses, researchers at Belgorod State University have harnessed the properties of SCOBY to create a groundbreaking antibacterial wound dressing suitable for both medical and veterinary applications. The effectiveness of this innovative product has been validated through experiments conducted in vivo on wounded skin models.

The new dressing is composed of a bacterial cellulose hydrogel derived from a cultured strain of Medusomyces gisevii, commonly known as SCOBY. This term encompasses various symbiotic organisms, including yeast-like fungi and acetic acid bacteria, which contribute to the unique properties of the material.

This interdisciplinary research involved collaboration among teams from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, the BUNKIR Institute of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Biology, and the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at the Medical Institute. The project was led by Associate Professor Natalia Avtina, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

According to the researchers, SCOBY demonstrates an impressive adaptive capacity, self-regulating its acidity levels during cultivation and forming a carrier matrix made up of a fine network of nanofibers. This bacterial cellulose effectively retains moisture, allows gases and steam to pass through, and remains impermeable to bacteria.

“As a producer of bacterial cellulose, we utilized SCOBY, which not only ensures a high technological yield but also results in a material with beneficial properties such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and heat resistance. The latter is particularly crucial for subsequent sterilization, especially when preparing pharmaceutical dosage forms for application on wound surfaces,” explained Natalia Avtina.

The development also includes a specialized composition of a complex liquid nutrient medium designed to promote SCOBY growth. The researchers incorporated medicinal substances into the cellulose matrix, including dexpanthenol and collagen for their wound-healing properties, as well as metronidazole for its antibacterial effects.

Natalia Avtina detailed that the technology for producing the wound dressing involves cultivating the Medusomyces gisevii bacterial strain under static conditions in a complex liquid nutrient medium. The resulting bacterial cellulose gel film is purified of ballast substances and homogenized using a mechanical homogenizer. This homogeneous mass is then mixed with an aqueous solution containing collagen, metronidazole, beta-cyclodextrin, dexpanthenol, and benzalkonium chloride. After distribution onto a substrate, it is frozen and subsequently dried.

The wound-healing efficacy of this biocomposite was evaluated in vivo using laboratory rats with simulated skin wounds. The study revealed that applying this wound dressing significantly accelerated the healing process, achieving complete restoration of the skin surface by the 14th day. Importantly, the dressing can be easily removed from the wound site.

The incorporation of collagen in the dressing provides haemostatic effects, reduces inflammation, activates reparative processes, and shortens healing time. Meanwhile, dexpanthenol offers dermatoprotective and anti-inflammatory benefits while stimulating skin regeneration. Unlike conventional wound dressings that contain antibiotics like penicillin or streptomycin – against which microorganisms can quickly develop resistance – this innovative dressing presents a safer alternative.