An Asymmetric Natural Nanofiber with Rapid Temperature Responsive Detachability Inspired by Andrias davidianus for Full-Thickness Skin Wound Healing

Abstract

Wound dressing management is critical in healthcare, and frequent dressing changes for full-thickness skin wounds can hinder healing. Nanofiber dressings that resemble the extracellular matrix, have gained popularity in wound repair, however, it is challenging to explore how to frequently change it without affecting healing processing and avoiding secondary damage. Here, we developed a self-adhesive and detachable nanofiber dressing inspired by Andrias davidianus. Our asymmetric nanofiber dressing exhibits strong adhesion (26 kPa), to the wound at high temperature (approximately 25 °C) to the wound surface and can be easily detached (4 kPa) at low temperature (below 8 °C), enabling painless dressing changes that minimize secondary injuries. The dressing comprises an outer layer of polylactic acid which provides mechanical property, support, and pollution resistance, with an inner layer of nanofibrous membrane, composed of gelatin and Andrias davidianus skin secretions, which promotes cellular migration, enhances wound healing and possesses inherent antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the all-natural nanofiber dressings can be prepared on a large scale and offer favorable biocompatibility to meet the basic requirements of wound dressings. These findings demonstrate the potential applicability of our multilayer nanofiber dressing for advancing wound healing practices.

Keywords

Natural / Rapid / Temperature Responsive Detachability / Asymmetric / Nanofibers / Bionic Wound Healing

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(T2222029 U21A20396); CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(YSBR-012); Incubation Foundation of Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine(2023FH122); The Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA16020802); the China Scholarship Council(202206465017); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(FRFTP-20-019A2 FRF-BR-20-03B); Science Fund of Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Green Manufacturing (Yantai)(AMGM2023F04)