Poly(ethylene) Glycol-Based Wound Dressings with Jellyfish Skin Polysaccharides for Accelerated Wound Healing

The skin plays a vital role in protection, hydration, and thermoregulation; however, its integrity can be compromised by injury. Jellyfish skin polysaccharides (JSP), extracted from Rhizostoma pulmo, have shown promise in promoting wound healing by enhancing cell migration and offering protection against oxidative stress. This study investigates the effect of JSP incorporation into wound dressings based on acrylate-endcapped urethane-based precursor (AUP); which are already known for their favorable swelling capacity and mechanical strength. AUP+JSP composites were processed into both hydrogel sheets and electrospun fibers (ESFs) and characterized in terms of morphological, mechanical, physicochemical, and biological properties. JSP incorporation preserved the UV-crosslinking capability of AUP, as well as the mechanical and swelling properties of the resulting hydrogels. Notably, JSP addition induced a unique branched and homogeneous 3D architecture in the ESFs, characterized by raised fiber structures interrupting the otherwise typical flat fibrous network. Biological evaluations on murine fibroblasts included cytocompatibility assays, assessments of oxidative stress resistance, and in vitro scratch assays. The results confirmed the biocompatibility of the AUP+JSP formulations and demonstrated significantly enhanced scratch closure in JSP-containing dressings, particularly in the ESFs. These findings support the potential of JSP-functionalized hydrogel sheets and electrospun fibers as advanced wound dressing platforms.