Seta-Inspired Mechano-Intelligent Janus Bandage with Coordinated Adhesion-Contraction for Minimizing Scarring.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Bioinspired Engineering

Background:

• Current wound dressings lack dynamic adhesion-contraction coupling for effective healing.
• Gecko-inspired adhesion and mechano-active materials show promise but are not integrated.
• Stimulus-free, programmable contractile output in wound healing systems is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer bioinspired mechano-intelligent Janus bandages (MIBs) with coordinated adhesion-contraction.
• To achieve quantitatively programmable contractile output for enhanced wound healing.
• To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of MIB-mediated scar-attenuated healing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of MIBs using poly(lactide-co-propylene glycol-co-lactide) dimethacrylates (PmLnD) with gecko-mimicking surfaces.
• Application of a pre-strain method to program contractile force and adhesion strength.
• Evaluation of MIBs in rat and porcine full-thickness skin defect models.
• Analysis of molecular pathways including focal adhesion kinase (FAK), NF-κB, Wnt, and TGF-β.

Main Results:

• MIBs demonstrated precise control of contractile forces and dynamically coordinated adhesion.
• The MIBs accelerated re-epithelialization and enhanced angiogenesis in wound models.
• MIBs reduced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression, modulating key wound healing pathways.
• Scar-attenuated wound healing was observed, indicating improved tissue regeneration.

Conclusions:

• The engineered MIBs offer a stimulus-free system for programmable wound healing via coordinated adhesion-contraction.
• This gecko-inspired Janus design integrates strain-programmable contraction with reversible adhesion for soft tissue repair.
• MIBs represent a novel mechanobiological strategy for advanced wound management.