A Highly Stable, Multifunctional Janus Dressing for Treating Infected Wounds

Abstract

The limited and unstable absorption of excess exudate is a major challenge during the healing of infected wounds. In this study, a highly stable, multifunctional Janus dressing with unidirectional exudate transfer capacity is fabricated based on a single poly(lactide caprolactone) (PLCL). The success of this method relies on an acid hydrolysis reaction that transforms PLCL fibers from hydrophobic to hydrophilic in situ. The resulting interfacial affinity between the hydrophilic/phobic PLCL fibers endows the Janus structure with excellent unidirectional liquid transfer and high structural stability against repeated stretching, bending, and twisting. Various other functions, including wound status detection, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, are also integrated into the dressing by incorporating phenol red and epigallocatechin gallate. An in vivo methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound model confirms that the Janus dressing, with the capability to remove exudate from the infected site, not only facilitates epithelialization and collagen deposition, but also ensures low inflammation and high angiogenesis, thus reaching an ideal closure rate up to 98.4% on day 14. The simple structure, multiple functions, and easy fabrication of the dressing may offer a promising strategy for treating chronic wounds, rooted in the challenges of bacterial infection, excessive exudate, and persistent inflammation.