Photo-responsive antibacterial patches composed of liquid metal-encapsulated core-shell microfibers for wound healing




Li, Jinbo; Wang, Yu; Wang, Xiaoju; Shang, Luoran; Zhao, Yuanjin; Zhang, Hongbo

PublisherElsevier

LAUSANNE

2025

Chemical Engineering Journal

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL

CHEM ENG J

164218

516

8

1385-8947

1873-3212

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164218

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.



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.


Last updated on 2025-07-08 at 13:14