Preparation of a pH-Responsive Janus Composite Fibrous Membrane: an Integrated Performance Study on the Visualized Detoxification of a Mustard Gas Simulant and Treatment of Mustard Gas-Induced Skin Injury

Mustard gas (HD) causes ulcerative skin wounds; however, owing to its multiple mechanisms of action, no officially approved specific antidote has been developed to date. Moreover, current therapeutic materials for HD-induced skin injuries generally overlook the potential retention of residual HD at the wound site, which may adversely affect the healing process. Herein, a Janus membrane was rationally designed and successfully fabricated by electrospinning a blend of curcumin (denoted Cur)-loaded γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (Cur@γ-CD-MOF) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) onto a chitosan nonwoven fabric (CS-NWF) substrate, yielding a material with both pH-responsive drug release and HD detoxification capabilities. The resulting membrane was systematically characterized using IR, P-XRD, SEM, BET, TG and other techniques. The experimental results showed that the Cur@γ-CD-MOF@PAN side of the Janus membrane improved the aqueous solubility of Cur and enabled sustained, on-demand release. The skin-contacting CS-NWF side exhibited hemostatic capability, and Cur released from the membrane to the skin together with CS is thought to exert synergistic antioxidant effects. Moreover, the Janus membrane exhibited notable detoxification performance toward the HD simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide and enabled real-time visual monitoring of the detoxification process through a steady color change of the system from red to yellow. Remarkably, in a guinea pig model of cutaneous HD intoxication, this Janus membrane showed a good therapeutic effect on HD-injured skin.