Comparison of silk fibroin electrospun scaffolds with poloxamer and honey additives for burn wound applications

A primary aim in wound-healing research is to construct an inexpensive, biodegradable dermal regeneration template with heightened moisture retention and permeability properties. The presence of moisture is important for optimal burn wound healing as it creates an environment for re-epithelialization and minimizes the risk of infections. Permeability can be achieved through a process known as electrospinning. This scaffold fabrication technique creates a mat of randomly oriented nanofibers that can readily mimic native extracellular matrix. Novel electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds were fabricated with poloxamer 407 (P407) and Manuka honey additives for a burn wound dermal regeneration template application. Enhanced human dermal fibroblast adhesion and cell infiltration were observed with the inclusion of P407, and scaffolds incorporated with Manuka honey demonstrated increased water uptake and a higher cell density within the scaffolds at the end of a 28-day period. Overall, this study established that both the silk fibroin/P407 and silk fibroin/Manuka honey scaffolds have the potential to be successful dermal regeneration templates, with P407 increasing surface wettability and Manuka honey modulating moisture retention.