Electrospun asymmetric membranes for wound dressing applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Wound Healing Research
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Effective wound healing requires advanced materials that manage moisture, prevent infection, and support tissue regeneration.
• Asymmetric membranes with distinct functional layers are promising for wound dressings.
• Incorporating bactericidal agents into wound materials can combat infection and accelerate healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize novel asymmetric membranes composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) loaded with carvacrol (CRV).
• To evaluate the membranes' potential for rapid wound healing by assessing their physical, mechanical, and biological properties.
• To investigate the bactericidal efficacy, cytocompatibility, and wound closure capabilities of the carvacrol-loaded membranes.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PCL/PVAc asymmetric membranes via electrospinning.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
• Assessment of mechanical properties, fluid handling, drug release kinetics, antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility (2D and 3D cultures), and wound closure in vitro.

Main Results:

• High carvacrol (CRV) loading efficiencies (40-50%) and sustained release (85-100%) were achieved.
• The membranes demonstrated significant inhibition of both Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria.
• Carvacrol-loaded membranes were cytocompatible with human dermal fibroblasts and did not impede cell migration.

Conclusions:

• The developed PCL/PVAc asymmetric membranes loaded with carvacrol show significant potential as advanced wound healing materials.
• These membranes effectively prevent bacterial contamination and promote a suitable environment for wound healing.
• The combination of physical barrier properties, antibacterial action, and biocompatibility makes these membranes a promising candidate for clinical applications.