Layered nanofiber sponge with an improved capacity for promoting blood coagulation and wound healing

Abstract

Effective bleeding control and wound healing are very important and can be life saving. However, traditional wound dressings with structural deficiencies are not effective in controlling bleeding and promoting the regeneration of functional tissues. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) layered nanofiber sponge was obtained by expanding two-dimensional (2D) nanofiber membranes into the third dimension. This sponge has a layered nanofiber structure, which increases the interfacial interaction between the sponge and blood cells to accelerate hemostasis. Through fine-tuning of structure, the 3D nanofiber sponge acquires properties beneficial to wound healing such as good elasticity and high permeability and fluid absorption ratio. The 3D nanofiber sponges are both highly compressible and resilient, providing tamponade for deep wounds and creating a good 3D dynamic microenvironment to regulate cellular behavior. Further research has demonstrated that the layered nanofiber structure could promote the regeneration of functional dermis and the restoration of differentiated adipocytes during the early repair phase. Experiments using model mice with full-thickness skin defects have shown that the layered nanofiber structure could effectively accelerate wound healing and reduce scar formation. This layered 3D nanofiber sponge design is easy to produce. Due to its excellent wound healing property, this porous nanofiber sponge has great potential for future clinical application as wound dressings.

Keywords: Chitosan; Elasticity; Hemostasis; Layered nanofiber structure; Tamponade effect; Wound healing.