Skin lesions are traumatic events that lead to increased fluid loss, infections, scars formation and the appearance of immunocompromised regions. The loss of skin integrity can result in significant physiological imbalances and disability or even death. So far, different wound dressings have been developed. Among them, hydrogels are the most applied. Herein, a thermoresponsive hydrogel was produced using chitosan and agarose formed at body temperature (37°C), in order to verify their applicability in the treatment of wounds. Hydrogel bactericidal activity, biocompatibility, morphology, porosity and wettability were characterized by confocal microscopy, MTS assay and SEM. The attained results revealed that hydrogel has a pore size (90–400 µm) compatible with cellular internalization and proliferation. A bactericidal activity was observed for hydrogels containing more than 188 µg/mL of chitosan. The results obtained demonstrated that this 3D network has the suitable properties for improving the healing process of cutaneous wounds.

Skin wounds have significant morbidity and mortality rates associated. This is explained by the limited effectiveness of the currently available treatments, which in some cases do not allow the reestablishment of the structure and functions of the damaged skin, leading to wound infection and dehydration. These drawbacks may have an impact on the healing process and ultimately prompt patients’ death. For this reason, researchers are currently developing new wound dressings that enhance skin regeneration. Among them, electrospun polymeric nanofibres have been regarded as promising tools for improving skin regeneration due to their structural similarity with the extracellular matrix of normal skin, capacity to promote cell growth and proliferation and bactericidal activity as well as suitability to deliver bioactive molecules to the wound site. In this review, an overview of the recent studies concerning the production and evaluation of electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for skin regenerative purposes is provided. Moreover, the current challenges and future perspectives of electrospun nanofibrous membranes suitable for this biomedical application are highlighted.

Healing enhancement and pain control are critical issues on wound management. So far, different wound dressings have been developed. Among them, hydrogels are the most applied. Herein, a thermoresponsive hydrogel was produced using chitosan (deacetylation degree 95%) and agarose. Hydrogel bactericidal activity, biocompatibility, morphology, porosity and wettability were characterized by confocal microscopy, MTS assay and SEM. The performance of the hydrogel in the wound healing process was evaluated through in vivo assays, during 21 days. The attained results revealed that hydrogel has a pore size (90–400 μm) compatible with cellular internalization and proliferation. A bactericidal activity was observed for hydrogels containing more than 188 μg/mL of chitosan. The improved healing and the lack of a reactive or a granulomatous inflammatory reaction in skin lesions treated with hydrogel demonstrate its suitability to be used in a near future as a wound dressing.

Nowadays, wound dressings with improved properties are under development and among them, asymmetric membranes have gained an increasing interest due to their two-layered structure that mimic both the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. Herein, a new asymmetric membrane was produced using the electrospinning technique. The top layer was produced with silk fibroin (SF) and poly(caprolactone) to reproduce the dense nature and waterproof ability of the epidermis. On the other hand, the dermis-like bottom layer was manufactured with SF and hyaluronic acid loaded with an herbal drug (thymol (THY)). All the data gathered showed that the produced electrospun asymmetric membrane exhibited the porosity, wettability, and mechanical properties suitable for the healing process. Further, the in vitro data also demonstrated that the human fibroblast is able to adhere and spread at the membranes' surface, thus confirming their biocompatibility. Moreover, the incorporation of THY into the bottom layer of the membrane, improved its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate the appropriateness of the produced membrane for wound healing applications.

Skin wounds have significant morbidity and mortality rates associated. This is explained by the limited effectiveness of the currently available treatments, which in some cases do not allow the reestablishment of the structure and functions of the damaged skin, leading to wound infection and dehydration. These drawbacks may have an impact on the healing process and ultimately prompt patients’ death. For this reason, researchers are currently developing new wound dressings that enhance skin regeneration. Among them, electrospun polymeric nanofibres have been regarded as promising tools for improving skin regeneration due to their structural similarity with the extracellular matrix of normal skin, capacity to promote cell growth and proliferation and bactericidal activity as well as suitability to deliver bioactive molecules to the wound site. In this review, an overview of the recent studies concerning the production and evaluation of electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for skin regenerative purposes is provided. Moreover, the current challenges and future perspectives of electrospun nanofibrous membranes suitable for this biomedical application are highlighted.

Bacterial colonization of open skin wounds can interfere with the healing process, contributing to an increase in the severity of the wound. To overcome such drawback, wound dressings with an improved bactericidal activity have been developed or are currently under development. Herein, poly(caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous membranes functionalized with biosynthesized Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were produced using an electrospinning apparatus and their properties (chemical, morphological, mechanical and biological) analyzed in order to evaluate their suitability for being used as wound dressings. The functionalization of PCL nanofibers with MRPs allowed the production of membranes with the mechanical, wettability and porosity features required for wound exudate absorption as well as nutrients and gas exchange. Furthermore, MRPs-modified PCL membranes were also able to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth, without inducing any cytotoxic effect to human fibroblasts. These findings support the potential use of the produced membranes in the healing process.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG), is a major component of skin extracellular matrix (ECM) and it is involved in the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration process. Due to the intrinsic properties of HA (such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and hydrophilic character), it has been used to produce different wound dressings, namely sponges, films, hydrogels, and electrospun membranes. Herein, an overview of the different HA-based wound dressings that have been produced so far is provided as well as the future directions regarding the strategies aimed to improve the mechanical stability of HA-based wound dressings, along with the incorporation of biomolecules intended to ameliorate their biological performance during the healing process.

A bilayered electrospun membrane was produced in this study, using the electrospinning technique, to be applied as a skin substitute. The upper layer of the membrane was comprised by hyaluronic acid and polycaprolactone in order to provide mechanical support and also to act as a physical barrier against external threats. Chitosan and zein were used to produce the bottom layer that was loaded with salicylic acid, in order to confer anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity to this layer. The physicochemical properties of the membranes were determined and the obtained results showed that the produced electrospun membrane display an ideal porosity, appropriate mechanical properties, controlled water loss and a suitable salicylic acid release profile. In addition, membranes did not exhibit any toxic effects for human fibroblast cells, since cells were able to adhere, spread and proliferate. Furthermore, no biofilm formation was noticed on membranes’ surface along the experiments. In conclusion, the gathered data reveal that this electrospun membrane has suitable properties to be used as a wound dressing.

Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture is the main methodology used for screening anticancer therapeutics. However, these 2D cellular models misrepresent the architecture of native tumors, leading, in some cases, to unsuccessful prediction of cancer cell response to drugs. To overcome such limitations, cell growth in three dimensions (3D) arises as an alternative to reproduce in vitro the cellular arrangement found in tumors. Among the 3D cancer models developed so far, spheroids are the most attractive since these are cellular aggregates that broadly mimic many features of solid tumors affecting humans, like cell–cell interactions. One of the most applied techniques for producing spheroids is the liquid overlay technique, in which cells aggregate due to their limited adhesion to certain biomaterials, usually agarose or agar. Recently, the suitability of hyaluronic acid (HA) for spheroids assembly and HA-cell surface receptor interactions has been investigated. Ergo, this review gathers a summary of different studies where HA-based structures were developed and used for tumor spheroids production in order to be used in vitro as reliable 3D tumor models for therapeutic screening purposes.

During wound healing, an early inflammation can cause an increase of the wound size and the healing process can be considerably belated if a disproportionate inflammatory response occurs. (S)-ibuprofen (IBP), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, has been used for muscle healing and to treat venous leg ulcers, but its effect in skin wound healing has not been thoroughly studied thus far. Herein, IBP-β-cyclodextrins carriers were designed to customise the release profile of IBP from poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan (PVA/CS) dressings in order to promote a faster skin regeneration. The dressings were produced using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)-assisted technique. In vitro IBP release studies showed that β-cyclodextrins allowed a controlled drug release from the hydrogels which is crucial for their application in wound management. Moreover, the in vivo assays revealed that the presence of PVA/CS membranes containing IBP-β-cyclodextrins carriers avoided scab formation and an excessive inflammation, enabling an earlier skin healing.