A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Photo-responsive antibacterial patches composed of liquid metal-encapsulated core-shell microfibers for wound healing
Authors: Li, Jinbo; Wang, Yu; Wang, Xiaoju; Shang, Luoran; Zhao, Yuanjin; Zhang, Hongbo
Publisher: Elsevier
Publishing place: LAUSANNE
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Chemical Engineering Journal
Journal name in source: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
Journal acronym: CHEM ENG J
Article number: 164218
Volume: 516
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 1385-8947
eISSN: 1873-3212
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164218
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164218
Biomedical patches have extraordinary application value in the field of wound repair. The biosafety and effectiveness can be further improved by exploring their structural design. Herein, we present core-shell microfibers with liquid metal (LM) core and gelatin/methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) shell fabricated by microfluidic spinning method. Then the obtained core-shell microfibers are 3D-printed into regularly stacked patches. During the printing process, the initial morphological stability is provided by the thermoresponsive gelatin networks, while the irreversible structure is formed following the covalent photocrosslinking network of HAMA. Owing to the core-shell morphology, LM microdroplets are stably encapsulated in the core, to prevent leakage. The large specific surface area of LM microdroplets contributes to robust photothermal antibacterial effect. The core-shell microfiber-based patches have predominated antibacterial effect and can greatly promote wound healing. Thus, it is believed that the proposed patches composed of LM-encapsulated core-shell microfibers will show significant potential in wound treatments.
Funding information in the publication:
We appreciate the financial support from the Joint Fund of the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (BD24H180004). This work was also supported by Åbo Akademi University Foundation (SÅA) funded Center of Excellence in Research “Materials-driven solutions for combating antimicrobial resistance (MADNESS)” at ÅAU. We appreciate the financial support from Research Project (347897), Solutions for Health Profile (336355), InFLAMES Flagship (337531) and Research Infrastructure “Printed Intelligence Infrastructure” (PII-FIRI) from Research Council of Finland.
