Airborne ¹ O ₂ Delivery via a Superhydrophobic Dressing as a Pathway to Next‐Generation Wound Therapies, an In Vivo Murine Burn Model Study

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been investigated as a promising therapy for treating wound infections. However, its clinical application is limited by tissue hypoxia, poor photosensitizer (PS) penetration, and off‐target toxicity. In this work, we use a light‐activated, contactless aPDT system that delivers airborne singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) via a compliant, transparent superhydrophobic (SH) bandage. The verteporfin‐coated SH membrane generates 1 O 2 while minimizing direct contact between PS and wound tissue. In a murine third‐degree burn model infected with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a single SH‐aPDT treatment significantly reduces bacterial burden and accelerates wound closure. It enhances collagen deposition, stimulates angiogenesis, increases α‐SMA + myofibroblast activity, and decreases COX‐2 expression, indicating attenuated inflammatory signaling. Administration of two treatments 24 h apart further augments bacterial clearance and improves healing outcomes. SH‐aPDT also promotes a pro‐regenerative immune response, as evidenced by increased M2 macrophages. These findings demonstrate that airborne 1 O 2 delivery through SH bandages is a promising approach for the management of infected, hypoxic, or antibiotic‐resistant wounds, with great potential for clinical translation in wound care.