Publications

Wound infections affect 2% of the global population, causing chronic wounds and healthcare burdens as conventional antibiotics increasingly fail against biofilms. Consequently, attention is shifting toward advanced dressings that simultaneously prevent infection and support tissue regeneration. Among these, fibrous drug delivery systems have emerged as promising platforms for localized and controlled therapeutic delivery. Beyond platform geometry, physicochemical properties of the polymers are paramount in establishing biocompatibility, tunable degradation kinetics, and adequate mechanical integrity. PLGA and PLA/PCL-based nanofibrous platforms exhibit these favorable characteristics, even though they are still limited by issues such as limited control over release kinetics and potential instability of bioactive agents during fabrication. To address the limitations, hybrid platforms combining electrospun nanofibers with drug-loaded nanoparticles have been developed to provide structural integrity and secondary drug reservoirs for sustained release. Here, we developed a dualcarrier hybrid delivery platform to overcome burst release kinetics and achieve sustained local therapeutic levels by integrating microfluidically synthetized nanoparticles with electrospun nanofibrous matrices. To systematically elucidate the role of scaffold structure on the in-vitro performances, two delivery strategies were investigated: (i) direct entrapment of therapeutics within electrospun PLGA and PLA/PCL fibers, and (ii) surface coating of electrospun mats with PLGA nanoparticles. This study uses these approaches to encapsulate a hydrophobic agent, curcumin (CURC), a natural antimicrobial agent with limited solubility, and hydrophilic peptide, bovine lactoferricin (bLFC), which requires protection from enzymatic degradation. The use of these naturally derived compounds offers a promising non-antibiotic strategy to mitigate antibiotic resistance while promoting wound healing.

JTD Keywords: Antimicrobial agents, Biofilms, Curcumin, Dissolution profile, Dressings, Electrospinning, Hybrid scaffolds, Mechanisms, Microfluidics, Penetrant diffusion, Release, Solute, Swellable polymers, Wound infection

Objective: Wound healing is a complex process that involves the interaction between different cell types and bioactive factors. Impaired wound healing is characterized by a loss in synchronization of these interactions, resulting in nonhealing chronic wounds. Chronic wounds are a socioeconomic burden, one of the most prominent clinical manifestations of diabetes, however, they lack satisfactory treatment options. The objective of this study was to develop polymeric composites that deliver ions having wound healing properties and evaluate its performance using a pressure ulcer model in diabetic mice. Approach: To develop a polymeric composite wound dressing containing ion-releasing nanoparticles for chronic wound healing. This composite was chemically and physically characterized and evaluated using a pressure ulcer wound model in diabetic (db/db) mice to explore their potential as novel wound dressing. Results: This dressing exhibits a controlled ion release and a goodin vitrobioactivity. The polymeric composite dressing treatment stimulates angiogenesis, collagen synthesis, granulation tissue formation, and accelerates wound closure of ischemic wounds created in diabetic mice. In addition, the performance of the newly designed composite is remarkably better than a commercially available dressing frequently used for the treatment of low-exuding chronic wounds. Innovation: The developed nanoplatforms are cell- and growth factor free and control the host microenvironment resulting in enhanced wound healing. These nanoplatforms are available by cost-effective synthesis with a defined composition, offering an additional advantage in potential clinical application. Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, these polymeric composites offer an optimum approach for chronic wound healing without adding cells or external biological factors.

JTD Keywords: angiogenesis, bioactive dressings, chronic wounds, Angiogenesis, Bioactive dressings, Bioactive glass, Bioglass, Cells, Chronic wounds, Diabetes, Endothelial growth-factor, Expression, Hydrogel, Induction

Significance: The incidence of chronic wounds is increasing due to our aging population and the augment of people afflicted with diabetes. With the extended knowledge on the biological mechanisms underlying these diseases, there is a novel influx of medical technologies into the conventional wound care market. Recent Advances: Several nanotechnologies have been developed demonstrating unique characteristics that address specific problems related to wound repair mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the most recently developed nanotechnology-based therapeutic agents and evaluate the efficacy of each treatment in in vivo diabetic models of chronic wound healing. Critical Issues: Despite the development of potential biomaterials and nanotechnology-based applications for wound healing, this scientific knowledge is not translated into an increase of commercially available wound healing products containing nanomaterials. Future Directions: Further studies are critical to provide insights into how scientific evidences from nanotechnology-based therapies can be applied in the clinical setting.

JTD Keywords: chronic, diabetes, liposomes, nanofibers, nanoparticles, Chronic, Chronic wound, Diabetes, Diabetic wound, Diabetic-rats, Dressings, Drug mechanism, Extracellular-matrix, Growth-factor, Human, In-vitro, Liposome, Liposomes, Mesenchymal stem-cells, Metal nanoparticle, Nanofiber, Nanofibers, Nanofibrous scaffolds, Nanoparticles, Nanotechnology, Nonhuman, Polyester, Polymer, Polysaccharide, Priority journal, Protein, Review, Self assembled protein nanoparticle, Silk fibroin, Skin wounds, Wound healing, Wound healing promoting agent