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Three-dimensional multilayered fibrous constructs for wound healing applications.
Tiago C. Reis,Steven Castleberry,Ana M. B. Rego, Ana Aguiar-Ricardo and Paula T. Hammond
Biomater. Sci., 2016, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C5BM00211G
Graphical abstract
Abstract
Electrospun materials are promising scaffolds due to their light-weight, high surface-area and low-cost fabrication, however, such scaffolds are commonly obtained as ultrathin two-dimensional
non-woven meshes, lacking on topographical specificity and surface side-dependent properties.
Herein, it is reported the production of threedimensional fibrous materials with an asymmetrical
inner structure and engineered surfaces. The manufactured constructs evidence fibrousbased
microsized conical protrusions [length: (10 ± 3) × 102 μm; width: (3.8 ± 0.8) × 102 μm] at their top
side, with a median peak density of 73 peaks per cm2, while their bottom side resembles to a
non-woven mesh commonly observed in the fabrication of two-dimensional electrospun materials.
Regarding their thickness (3.7 ± 0.1 mm) and asymmetric fibrous inner architecture, such materials
avoid external liquid absorption while promoting internal liquid uptake. Nevertheless, such
constructs also observed the high porosity (89.9%) and surface area (1.44 m2 g−1) characteristic
of traditional electrospun mats. Spray layer-by-layer assembly is used to effectively coat the
structurally complex materials, allowing to complementary tailor features such as water vapor
transmission, swelling ratio and bioactive agent release. Tested as wound dressings, the novel
constructs are capable of withstanding (11.0 ± 0.3) × 104 kg m2 even after 14 days of hydration,
while actively promote wound healing (90 ± 0.5% of wound closure within 48 hours) although
avoiding cell adhesion on the dressings for a painless removal.
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