Biocompatible, robust, waterproof and breathable PDMS-based PU fibrous membranes for potential application in wound dressing

Abstract

Wound dressings, an effective tool for repairing injured skin and protecting it from secondary damage, have been widely manufactured. However, the design of wound dressings with waterproofness, breathability, mechanical robustness, and excellent biocompatibility remains a challenge due to the imbalance between the multiple desirable properties. Herein, a strategy is proposed to fabricate biocompatible membranes via a facile one-step electrospinning method. Polydimethylsiloxane-based polyurethane is effectively prepared to form durable hydrophobic surfaces, resulting in a high degree of hydrophobicity (141.0° water contact angle). The porous structure is enhanced by adjusting the solution concentration and heat treatment temperature, resulting in an optimal water vapor transmission rate of 8.2 kg·m−2·h−1. Additionally, the membrane exhibits a hydrostatic pressure of 52.3 kPa, which is approximately 14.1 times greater than that of PU fibrous membrane, and an enhanced tensile strength of 6.60 MPa. Moreover, the membrane can be utilized in a wide temperature range from − 123 °C to 160 °C due to its low glass transition temperature and exceptional thermal stability. Significantly, both in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the remarkable biocompatibility and minimal toxicity to normal cells and mice skin. Our work presents a new approach to designing waterproof and breathable biomaterials with high mechanical strength, thereby enhancing their performance and functionality in the biomedical field, particularly in wound dressing applications.