Electrospun Biodegradable Polycaprolactone/Casein Nanofibrous Mats for Bioactive Wound Dressings

Elisabeth Ekoh – PhD Student, Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal;Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal; Isabela Sales – Fellowship, Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800–058 Guimarães, Portugal; André Carvalho – Fellowship, Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800–058 Guimarães, Portugal; Vânia Pais – Researcher, Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; Helena Barroso – Professor, Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal; Madalena Salema-Oom – Professor, Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal; Raúl Fangueiro – Professor, Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800–058 Guimarães, Portugal;Fibrenamics, Institute of Innovation on Fiber-Based Materials and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; Raquel Galante – Researcher, Universidade dos Açores, Açores, Portugal;Biotrust Solutions, Lagoa, Açores, Portugal; Ana Paula Serro – Professor, Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal ; Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health and Science, 2829-511 Caparica, Almada, Portugal

Introduction:

Chronic wounds are a major clinical challenge, demanding more effective dressings to accelerate healing and prevent infection. Electrospun nanofibers mimic the extracellular matrix, allow to manage exudate, and can carry/release bioactive agents. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) known to provide flexible, robust, slowly degradable scaffolds¹, and casein (CAS), a milk-derived protein, that can add hydrophilicity and potential antioxidant/antimicrobial functionality², were used in this work to produce mats for advanced wound dressings.