Microfluidic generation of multifunctional core-shell microfibers promote wound healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Wound healing is a complex biological process with four distinct stages: hemostasis, anti-inflammatory, repair, and epithelialization.
• Effective wound management requires strategies that address all these stages sequentially.
• Current treatments may not fully optimize each phase of healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize multifunctional core-shell microfibers for enhanced wound healing.
• To investigate the efficacy of these microfibers in promoting all four stages of wound repair.
• To establish a novel strategy for comprehensive wound treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of core-shell alkylated chitosan/calcium alginate microfibers using microfluidic technology.
• Assessment of microfiber structure and properties, including absorption, hemostasis, and antibacterial activity.
• Evaluation of the microfibers' performance in a chronic skin injury model.

Main Results:

• Microfluidic technology enabled continuous and convenient generation of core-shell microfibers.
• The microfibers demonstrated effective absorption of blood and exudate.
• Alkylated chitosan component provided significant hemostatic and antibacterial properties, accelerating acute hemorrhage control and bacterial destruction.
• Application of microfibers significantly promoted chronic wound healing in a skin injury model.

Conclusions:

• Multifunctional core-shell microfibers offer a promising approach for promoting wound healing across all four stages.
• The unique properties of these microfibers, including absorption, hemostasis, and antibacterial action, contribute to comprehensive wound management.
• This technology presents a versatile and robust paradigm for advanced wound treatment.