A bi-functional nanofibrous composite membrane for wound healing applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional wound dressings often fail to restore skin structure, increasing infection and dehydration risks.
• Electrospun membranes offer a promising biomimetic scaffold for advanced wound healing applications.
• Developing multifunctional wound dressings with antibacterial and antioxidant properties is crucial for effective healing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel electrospun nanofiber wound dressing with enhanced wound healing capabilities.
• To investigate the synergistic antibacterial and antioxidant activities of a rosmarinic acid-hydroxyapatite hybrid (HAP-RA) incorporated into polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers.
• To optimize the composition of the PA6/PEG/HAP-RA nanofibrous composite for improved physiochemical and biological properties.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of varying concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5 wt.%) of rosmarinic acid-hydroxyapatite hybrid (HAP-RA) into electrospun polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers.
• Introduction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance biocompatibility and biodegradability.
• Characterization of hydrophilicity, water uptake, biodegradability, mechanical properties, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant potential.
• In vitro assessment of cytocompatibility using MTT assay on L929 cell line.

Main Results:

• The PA6/PEG/HAP-RA nanofibrous composite with 1 wt.% HAP-RA exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity, water uptake, biodegradability, and mechanical properties.
• The developed nanofibrous composite demonstrated excellent antibacterial activity.
• In vitro studies confirmed the antioxidant potential and positive effects on cell viability and proliferation.
• The optimized composite displayed desirable physiochemical and biological properties.

Conclusions:

• The PA6/PEG/HAP-RA nanofibrous composite represents a promising multifunctional wound healing platform.
• The synergistic combination of HAP-RA and PEG in PA6 nanofibers enhances wound dressing performance.
• This novel material warrants further investigation for advanced wound healing applications.