Development of poly (1,8 octanediol-co-citrate) and poly (acrylic acid) nanofibrous scaffolds for wound healing applications

Wound care is one of the leading health care problems in the United States costing billions of dollars yearly. Annually, millions of acute wounds occur due to surgical procedures or traumas such as burns and abrasions, and these wounds can become non-healing due to bacterial infection or underlying pathologies. Current wound care treatments include the use of bioinert constructs combined with topical administration of anti-bacterial agents and growth factors. However, there is a growing need for the development of bioactive wound dressing materials that are able to promote wound healing and the regeneration of healthy tissue. In this work, we evaluate and report the use of a novel electrospun polymeric scaffold consisting of poly (1,8 octanediol-co-citrate) and poly (acrylic acid) for wound healing applications. The scaffold exhibits intrinsic antibacterial activity, hydrogel-like water uptake abilities, and the ability to deliver physiologically relevant concentrations of growth factor. Additionally, the scaffold shows antibacterial function when tested with bacteria relevant to wound healing applications. Biological characterization of the electrospun scaffold shows excellent cellular adhesion, low cytotoxicity, and enhanced proliferation of skin fibroblasts. This work has potential towards the development of novel bioactive scaffolds for prevention of bacterial infiltration into the wound bed and enhanced healing.