Immunomodulatory Nanofibrous Membrane Based on Collagen/Curdlan Acetate for Accelerated Wound Repair

Abstract

Collagen is a key component in the extracellular matrix (ECM) with potent immunoregulatory and wound-healing functions. However, its limited processability and stability have hindered its application as a wound dressing. To this end, a composite nanofibrous membrane based on Curdlan acetate (CDA) and bovine type I collagen was developed to broaden the utility of collagen in wound repair. The CDA/collagen nanofibrous membrane (CDAColNM5) demonstrated an average fiber diameter of ∼100 nm, a tensile strength of ∼3.4 MPa, and a swelling degree of ∼540%. The composite membrane also supported the adhesion and proliferation of 3T3 fibroblast cells while upregulating the expression of pro-regenerative cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β in macrophage models. The immunomodulatory and wound-healing activities of CDAColNM5 were also verified in an animal study. Therefore, these findings suggest that CDAColNM5 represents a promising option for wound management.