Bioactive polyethylene-coated nonwovens for wound healing application

Abstract

Bioactive non-woven dressings can be prepared by dip coating of non-woven cloth in solutions containing bioactive polyethylene bearing pendant arms of polyethylene (PE5000) and modified PEG3400-biomolecules including linear Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), collagen fragment (Gly-Pro-Hyp)3, laminin-derived peptide (AGQWHRVSVRWGC) (A5G81) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Obtainment of ultimate coating concentration for each type of non-woven cloth is achieved such that the technically demanding bioactive polyethylene does not delaminate from the non-woven cloth itself but is of sufficient quantity for bioactivity. Scanning electron microscopy images show uniform polyethylene deposition on the non-woven cloth. Good water absorption and permeability allow the use of such bioactive polyethylene coated non-woven cloth as wound dressings. Material biocompatibility is demonstrated using in vitro human skin fibroblast assays. In vivo porcine full thickness excisional wound model shows PE5000-coated non-woven cloth can remarkably accelerate skin regeneration to close the wounds faster than clinical gold standard dressing. Thus, the results presented here may provide a promising guide for bioactive polyethylene-modified non-woven materials for wound dressing applications.