Preparation and characterization of poly(ethylene oxide)/zinc oxide nanofibrous scaffold for chronic wound healing applications.

Background: Skin, the first barrier to pathogens, loses its integrity and function after an injury. The presence of an antibacterial dressing at the wound site may prevent bacterial invasion and also improve the healing process.

Objectives: The current study aimed to fabricate a biomimetic membrane with antibacterial properties for healing chronic wounds.

Material and methods: The membranes, fabricated through electrospinning, are comprised of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as the main biomaterial and antibacterial agent, respectively. Antibacterial activity, cell attachment and viability were tested to evaluate the biological properties of the membranes. The optimal cell compatible concentration of ZnO-NPs was determined for further studies. In vitro characterization of the membranes was performed to confirm their suitable properties for wound healing.

Results: The antibacterial PEO/ZnO-NP membrane containing 2% of nanoparticles showed no cell toxicity, and human fibroblast cells were able to adhere and proliferate on the scaffold. The in vitro results from the tensile test, wettability, porosity, and protein adsorption revealed appropriate properties of the membrane as a scaffold for skin tissue engineering.

Conclusions: Synthetic polymers have been widely used for tissue engineering applications. The proper characteristics of PEO nanofibers, including a high ratio of surface/volume, moderate hydrophilicity and good mechanical properties, make this polymer interesting for skin regeneration. The results demonstrate the potential of the antibacterial PEO/ZnO-NP membrane to be used as an engineered scaffold to improve the wound healing process.