Electrospun nanofibers in wound healing

Abstract

Treatment and management of wounds is largely dependent on the dressing material which, in addition to providing surface protection, drug delivery and bacteriostatic activities, also allows cell and tissue regeneration. Subsequently, scientists developed mechanisms to promote cell propagation in the wound and accelerate the healing process. However, mechanisms that simultaneously inhibit the microbial development or treat infection and effectively promote cell regeneration for wound healing are still lacking. This outlook focuses on the properties of natural, artificial and hybrid polymeric nanofibers in the good prognosis of skin tissue regeneration. Specifically, this paper will explore the efficacy of electrospinning of nanofibers for application in wound treatment via narrative review approach. Relevant literature was collected from, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. The keywords included were electrospinning nanofibers, wound dressing, nano-structured scaffolds, and chronic wound healing. The inclusion criteria were in vitro human cells studies and relevant in vivo studies on animal models. The exclusion criteria were studies published earlier than 2010. A total of 85 articles were selected in literature search using the keywords following application of relevant filters. Out of the 85 articles, 25 were downloaded for having information that relates to the topics of study. Thirteen articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were then selected for review. Out of the 13 articles, 5 were randomized controlled trials (RCT)s. The results of this review revealed that polymorphic or composite nanofibers when used as a wound dressing accelerated wound healing and prevented the formation of a biofilm. The characteristics of electrospun nanofibers were found to be crucial for wound management. Overall, findings support the notion that electrospun nanofibers can be used as skin substitutes as they facilitate tissue regeneration.