Bionic Janus Fiber Enabling Autonomous Exudate Management and Multimodal Sterilization for Diabetic Wounds.
Qian Ren1,2, Dali Wang1, Xiaolei Song1
1Center for Clinical and Translational Medicine, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 12, 2025
Summary
This study presents a biomimetic wound dressing that manages fluid and kills bacteria using light. The dressing accelerates diabetic wound healing by reducing inflammation and promoting new blood vessel growth.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Diabetic wound healing is a significant clinical challenge, requiring effective exudate management and disinfection.
- Current treatments often fail to address the complex biological environment of diabetic wounds, hindering repair.
- Nature-inspired designs offer novel solutions for advanced wound care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a Janus-structured, biomimetic wound dressing for enhanced diabetic wound healing.
- To integrate directional biofluid transport and photothermal/photodynamic sterilization capabilities.
- To evaluate the dressing's efficacy in promoting wound repair in diabetic models.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a hierarchically structured PP/PAN-xCu-TCPP fiber dressing with distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers.
- Incorporation of copper-porphyrin metal-organic frameworks (Cu-TCPP MOFs) into a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous matrix on a polypropylene (PP) substrate.
- Assessment of unidirectional fluid dynamics, photothermal/photodynamic effects, and therapeutic outcomes in Staphylococcus aureus-infected diabetic mice models under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation.
Main Results:
- The Janus dressing demonstrated effective directional biofluid transport, preventing exudate accumulation while maintaining a moist microenvironment.
- NIR irradiation activated the dressing to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and photothermal effects, achieving significant microbial eradication.
- The system modulated the immune response by suppressing hyperinflammation and promoting M2 macrophage polarization, alongside enhancing angiogenesis.
Conclusions:
- The developed biomimetic wound dressing offers a multifunctional approach for diabetic wound healing by combining advanced fluid management with dual phototherapeutic sterilization.
- This system effectively controls infection and establishes a pro-regenerative microenvironment, accelerating wound repair.
- The study highlights the potential of nature-inspired Janus architectures in creating next-generation wound care solutions.
