Composite Aerogel Scaffolds Containing Flexible Silica Nanofiber and Tricalcium Phosphate Enable Skin Regeneration




Wang Xinyi; Yuan Zhengchao; Shafiq Muhammad; Cai Guangfang; Lei Zheng; Lu Yifan; Guan Xiangheng; Hashim Rashida; El-Newehy Mohamed; Abdulhameed Meera Moydeen; Lu Xiao; Xu Yuan; Mo Xiumei

PublisherAmerican Chemical Society (ACS)

2024

 ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

16

20

25843

25855

1944-8244

1944-8252

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c03744

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c03744



Poor hemostatic ability and less vascularization at the injury site could hinder wound healing as well as adversely affect the quality of life (QOL). An ideal wound dressing should exhibit certain characteristics: (a) good hemostatic ability, (b) rapid wound healing, and (c) skin appendage formation. This necessitates the advent of innovative dressings to facilitate skin regeneration. Therapeutic ions, such as silicon ions (Si4+) and calcium ions (Ca2+), have been shown to assist in wound repair. The Si4+ released from silica (SiO2) can upregulate the expression of proteins, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which is conducive to vascularization; Ca2+ released from tricalcium phosphate (TCP) can promote the coagulation alongside upregulating the expression of cell migration and cell differentiation related proteins, thereby facilitating the wound repair. The overarching objective of this study was to exploit short SiO2 nanofibers along with the TCP to prepare TCPx@SSF aerogels and assess their wound healing ability. Short SiO2 nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and blended with varying proportions of TCP to afford TCPx@SSF aerogel scaffolds. The TCPx@SSF aerogels exhibited good cytocompatibility in a subcutaneous implantation model and manifested a rapid hemostatic effect (hemostatic time 75 s) in a liver trauma model in the rabbit. These aerogel scaffolds also promoted skin regeneration and exhibited rapid wound closure, epithelial tissue regeneration, and collagen deposition. Taken together, TCPx@SSF aerogels may be valuable for wound healing.



Last updated on 22/01/2026 03:07:02 PM