Periplaneta americana extract incorporated silk fibroin nanofiber mat: A potential antioxidant dressing for wound healing

Although great progress has been made in cutaneous wound care, easily fabricated wound dressings with optional biocompatibility and wound-healing efficiency. In present study, a functionalized silk fibroin (SF) cutaneous dressing incorporating natural medicine Periplaneta americana extract (PAE) is proposed, in which PAE is utilized as antioxidant and wound-healing reagent. Through electrospinning, SF and PAE were conveniently processed into an SF-PAE composite nanofiber mat (SPNM), composed uniform nanofibers with an average diameter 111.8 +/- 30 nm. The interwoven nanofibers form mesh structures guaranteeing sufficient drug loading capacity, moisture permeability and excellent antioxidant activity. With methanol treatment, the mechanical properties of SPNM could be easily customized for different wound sites. In vitro cell experiments demonstrate the excellent biocompatibility of SPNM, proliferation of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts is significantly promoted in presence of SPNM. In a mouse model of full-thickness back wounds, SPNM presents much higher wound closure rate, compared with commercial products. The histomorphological assessments furtherly prove SPNM could enhance collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and re-epithelialization at wound sites to facilitate wound healing. These results indicate the potential application of SPNM as wound dressings in clinical wound treatment.