Radial Sponges Facilitate Wound Healing by Promoting Cell Migration and Angiogenesis

Abstract

The topographic cues of wound dressings play important roles in regulating cellular behaviors, such as cellular migration and morphology, and are capable of providing a prolonged stimulus for promoting wound healing. However, 3D porous dressings that can guide wound healing from the periphery to the center are poorly studied. Herein, radial sponges with adjustable lamellar spacing and microridge spacing by ice templating are developed to facilitate wound healing. With denser lamellae and microridges, fibroblasts achieve a more orderly arrangement, a larger elongation, and a greater migration rate. Meanwhile, the elongated state enables human umbilical vein endothelial cells to vascularization. The faster healing rate and a higher degree of vascularization based on radial sponges are further demonstrated in full‐thickness skin defects in rats. Taken together, radial sponges with the densest lamellae and microridges perform the best in guiding the wound from the periphery to the center of the repair environment. It is believed that the proposed structure here can be combined with various biochemical factors to provide dressings with functions.

Smart‐Responsive Multifunctional Therapeutic System for Improved Regenerative Microenvironment and Accelerated Bone Regeneration via Mild Photothermal Therapy

“…Recent studies have found that cell morphology plays a vital role in regulating the phenotype of cells, and an elongated spindle‐shaped morphology has been found to be tightly correlated with the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of osteoblast‐related cells and endothelial cells. [ 41,42 ] The enlarged confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images further verified the good cell adhesion and spreading behaviors on the GA/BPPDM hydrogel (Figure S5A, Supporting Information), as evidenced by the stretched filopodia and cytoskeletal rearrangement. According to the CLSM observation (Figure 4E) and quantitative results (Figure 4G,H), more cells adhered to the GA/BPPDM hydrogel not only exhibited the highest spreading area, but the actin filaments that make up the cytoskeleton were also highly expressed, implying a strong interaction between cells and the GA/BPPDM hydrogel.…”

Bioactive Materials That Promote the Homing of Endogenous Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Improve Wound Healing

“… 184 Jiawen Li et al adjusted the lamellar spacing and micro-ridge spacing of radial sponges with the ice template method, and they found that denser lamellae and micro-ridges could promote L929 cells and HUVECs to achieve a more ordered arrangement, as well as more efficient cell migration, thus promoting wound healing ( Figure 6 ). 185 However, cell migration in wound healing has been explored more in terms of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and vascular endothelial cells, and little research has been done on how materials can be used to promote the harmonious migration of MSCs to improve homing efficiency. Even though the factors affecting cell migration are largely the same, migration-friendly materials for MSCs still need to be developed.…”

“…However, in any case, the design of the dressing’s microscopic morphology can indeed influence the cellular motor behavior at the wound site, which can thus promote endogenous wound healing. 185 …”

Nanofiber Scaffolds as Drug Delivery Systems Promoting Wound Healing

“…Angiogenesis is essential for wound healing and regeneration. Adequate angiogenesis provides nutrients, oxygen, and bioactive substances to the wound while assisting in the removal of metabolic waste [ 224 ]. Drug-loaded nanofiber scaffolds can carry a variety of angiogenic-promoting drugs, such as growth factors, cytokines, and collagen proteins.…”