An asymmetric Janus membrane with anti-bacteria adhesion and rapid hemostasis properties for wound healing

Abstract

Currently, commercial intraoral dressings have limitations as they only serve a single purpose and fail to meet various needs, such as hemostasis, wound protection, and dressing fixation. Here, we successfully fabricated a multifunctional polycaprolactone-chitosan Janus membrane (PCJM) with simultaneous hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. The hydrophobic layer consists of a dense and disordered polycaprolactone, preventing bacterial adhesion, resisting fouling, and enhancing mechanical strength. The hydrophilic layer is a highly porous chitosan sponge, which facilitates cell and protein adhesion, as well as rapid absorption of blood and activation of the coagulation process. These results are confirmed by hemostasis experiments, which demonstrate that the PCJM had superior coagulation ability compared to commercial gelatin sponges and gauze, and by an early gingival healing model of beagle tooth extraction wounds, which exhibited excellent performance in promoting wound healing. Our work demonstrates the multifunctional PCJM wound dressing not only protects wounds from bacterial infections but also facilitates rapid hemostasis and early healing of beagle gingival soft tissue, which holds significant potential for clinical translation and large-scale production.