Chitosan/poly (ethylene oxide) nanofiber sponge with dual-responsive drug release and excellent antibacterial property

An ideal wound dressing can absorb wound exudate in time, and has the advantages of moisture permeability, oxygen permeability, rapid hemostatic performance, antibacterial and low-toxic, which are the key to wound healing. However, traditional wound dressings exist structural and functional defects, especially in controlling bleeding and active wound protection. Herein, a novel three-dimensional chitosan/ poly (ethylene oxide) sponge dressing (3D CS/PEO sponge-ZPC) consists of CS/PEO nanofiber sponge (carrier unit), Zn metal-organic framework grown in-situ (Zn-MOF, drug loading unit and antibacterial unit), curcumin (CUR, antibacterial unit), and poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(methacrylic acid)] (P(NIPAM-co-MAA), 'gatekeepers' unit) to promote the wound healing by absorb exudate in time, accelerate hemostasis and inhibit bacteria growth. Due to the unique structure of the as-prepared 3D CS/PEO sponge-ZPC was endowed with smart stimuli-responsive drug release mode, rapid hemostatic performance and strong antibacterial property. The result of CUR release showed smart "ON-OFF" drug release mode. Antibacterial results verified strong antibacterial property up to 99.9 %. Hemolysis test showed that hemolysis ratio of 3D CS/PEO sponge-ZPC met the acceptable standard. The rapid hemostatic property was demonstrated by hemostatic test. High wound healing effect was confirmed in vivo. These results provide an important research basis for the design of new smart dressing.