Exploring the potential of an Aloe vera and honey extract loaded bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold of PCL-Col and PCL-SBMA mimicking the skin architecture for the treatment of diabetic wounds†

Diabetic wounds are often chronic in nature, and issues like elevated blood sugar, bacterial infections, oxidative stress and persistent inflammation impede the healing process. To ensure the appropriate healing of wounds, scaffolds should promote complete tissue regeneration in wounds, both functionally and structurally. However, the available scaffolds lack the explicit architecture and functionality that could match those of native skin, thus failing to carry out the scar-free skin regeneration in diabetic wounds. This study deals with the synthesis of a bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold mimicking the native skin architecture in terms of porosity and hydrophobic–hydrophilic gradients. In addition, herbal extracts of Aloe vera and litchi honey were added in consecutive layers to manage the high blood glucose level, inflammation, and increased ROS level associated with diabetic wounds. In vitro studies confirmed that the prepared scaffold with herbal extracts showed enhanced proliferation of skin cells with good mechanical strength, degradability, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties. The scaffold also demonstrated superior wound healing in vivo with quicker scar-free wound recovery and appropriate skin regeneration, compared to conventional treatment. Altogether, the synthesized herbal extract loaded bi-layered nanofibrous scaffold can be used as a regenerative template for hard-to-heal diabetic wounds, offering a new strategy for the management of chronic wounds.