Human umbilical cord extracellular matrix-integrated electrospun nanofibers as bioactive wound dressings.

Abstract

Human Umbilical Cord Extracellular Matrix (UC-ECM) has emerged as a promising biomaterial for wound healing due to its inherent bioactivity and ability to support tissue regeneration. In the present study, bioactive electrospun nanofibrous wound dressings were fabricated by integrating extracellular matrix derived from decellularized human umbilical cord tissue with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The decellularization process efficiently eliminated cellular components while preserving essential extracellular matrix constituents and structural proteins. Electrospinning of the ECM-PVA blend resulted in the formation of uniform and bead-free nanofibers, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To further enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the electroospun nanofibers, curcumin was incorporated as a bioactive agent owing to its well-documented anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The physicochemical characteristics of the developed nanofibers were evaluated through swelling and degradation studies in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) with and without lysozyme, demonstrating suitable hydrolytic stability under physiological wound-healing conditions. In vitro biological evaluation revealed that the ECM-integrated nanofibers supported fibroblast attachment, maintained high cell viability, and promoted cellular proliferation. Furthermore, angiogenic potential assessed using the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay demonstrated significantly enhanced vascularization and intravascular network formation in the curcumin-loaded ECM nanofiber group. Overall, the developed Human Umbilical Cord Extracellular Matrix-integrated electrospun nanofibers exhibited favorable structural properties, excellent cytocompatibility, and strong pro-angiogenic activity. These findings highlight their potential as bioactive wound dressings for advanced wound healing and skin tissue regeneration applications.