FGF mimetic peptide-modified electrospun nanocomposite fibrous membranes for accelerating infectious diabetic wound healing by synergistic antibacterial and pro-angiogenesis effects

Diabetic wound treatment remains a severe threat to public health. Biomimetic nanocomposite scaffolds have shown great potential in anti-infection, but the challenges associated with insufficient angiogenesis remain. Herein, an efficient nanocomposite membrane combining basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) mimetic peptides and copper/catechol-derived resin nanoparticles (CuCFR NPs) loaded poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) electrospun fibrous membrane was developed for accelerating infectious diabetic wound healing by synergistic antibacterial and pro-angiogenesis effects. FGF2 mimetic peptides were chemically grafted onto the surface of the membrane to impart efficient cell viability while maintaining the porous ultrafine-fiber morphology, large tensile strength of 6.2 MPa and elongation of 317 %. The liberation of FGF2 mimetic peptides from the membrane effectively promoted both fibroblast and endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and enhanced tube formation <i>in vitro</i>. Importantly, owing to the unique structure of the CuCFR NPs, the membrane sustainedly released Cu²⁺ for 14 days, which effectively inhibited <i>S. aureus</i> (ca. 98 %) and modulated endothelial cell viability. Moreover, the membrane <i>in vivo</i> significantly reduced bacterial infection and promoted re-epithelialization, collagen deposition and angiogenesis in an infectious diabetic rat model. The peptide-modified nanocomposite membrane accelerates infectious diabetic wound healing and provides a new therapeutic perspective for the treatment of diabetic wounds.