Smart Delivery Platform Using Core–Shell Nanofibers for Sequential Drug Release in Wound Healing

Abstract

An effective approach to accelerating wound healing is through a smart delivery platform that releases drugs according to the needs of different healing periods. With the growing demand for wound care and treatment, electrospun nanofibers have attracted considerable attention owing to their simple and versatile method of manufacturing, unique structure, and biological functions similar to those of the extracellular matrix. Moreover, nanofibers can be loaded with active substances that promote targeted wound healing. In this study, we investigated the performance of a core–shell nanofiber platform loaded with two drugs in the core and shell, respectively. The shell polymer, poly-l-lactic acid, initially releases the encapsulated drug into an aqueous solution at room temperature. Gold nanorods with near-infrared absorbance were incorporated in the core polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) to produce localized heat by plasmon resonance when exposed to light. This allows the thermally responsive core polymer to swell and shrink for programmable drug release. Our study provides a versatile platform for controlled and safe drug delivery to wound sites and could be applied to the treatment of other topical diseases.

Composite Aerogel Scaffolds Containing Flexible Silica Nanofiber and Tricalcium Phosphate Enable Skin Regeneration

“…46 Wound dressings with characteristics, including air permeability, rapid hemostatic ability, and vasculogenic ability, may offer a promising platform for the healing of chronic skin wounds. 47,48 Electrospun fibers are often used to incorporate different types of bioactive cues to influence cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation and have been intensively studied for regenerative medicine and TE application, including skin repair. 49 Nevertheless, 2D fibrous membranes with poor air permeability and limited moisture absorption may obscure wound healing presumably due to the less diffusion of oxygen as well as minimal transport of nutrients.…”

Emergence of integrated biosensing-enabled digital healthcare devices

“…185,186 Biofunctionalized composite scaffolds that can enhance osteonecrosis therapy and smart delivery platforms employing core–shell nanofibers for sequential drug release in wound healing are important applications. 187,188…”

Smart Nanofibrous Hydrogel Wound Dressings for Dynamic Infection Diagnosis and Control: Soft but Functionally Rigid

“…The utilization of electrospinning proves to be a highly efficient approach for creating polymeric scaffolds that replicate the traits of the extracellular matrix (ECM). − This technique is distinguished by its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to produce a wide array of scaffolds. − Electrospinning encompasses single-fluid, bifluid, and multifluid techniques, with blended and emulsion methods falling under single-fluid, coaxial, and side-by-side configurations under bifluid methods, while multifluid approaches involve trifluid coaxial and four-fluid coaxial processes. − Owing to its extensive versatility, electrospinning has very high applicability in biomedicine, filtration, catalysis, energy, sensing, and optoelectronics. The growing interest in utilizing nanofiber-based hydrogels for wound management is attributed to their soft and characteristic nanofibrous structure .…”