Glucose-Activated\nJanus Wound Dressing for Enhanced\nManagement of Infected and Exudative Diabetic Wounds

Diabetic wounds, often multifactorial and affecting multiple\norgans,\npose substantial challenges to patient well-being, drawing significant\ninterest in biomedical engineering. The demanding wound microenvironment,\nmarked by heightened glucose levels, local exudate, and bacterial\ninfections, emphasizes the pressing demand for advanced wound dressings\nto meet escalating clinical needs. Herein, a Janus wound dressing\nwith an integration of an antimicrobial hydrophobic nanofiber layer\nand a 3D hydrophilic sponge was designed and prepared to manage and\nutilize wound exudate. The hydrophobic layer skillfully combined electrospun\npoly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofiber membranes (ENMs) and metal–organic\nframeworks (MOFs) with peroxidase-like properties by solvent etching,\nand glucose oxidase (GOx) was grafted through ligand interaction.\nGOx acts to consume glucose while modulating pH, thus suitable pH\nand self-supplied H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> were able to activate\nthe catalytic activity of MOFs to generate <sup>•</sup>OH.\nAdditionally, hydrophilic 3D sponges are constructed using gas foaming\ntechnology, which are tactfully combined with hydrophobic ENMs to\nform a Janus structure, which can transport exudate through the antimicrobial\nlayer to the sponge layer, while sufficient glucose contact with GOx\nenhances the antimicrobial properties of the designed Janus wound\ndressing. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the\ncascade effect of GOx@PCL/MOF ENMs, ultimately releasing reactive\noxygen species and exhibiting robust antibacterial properties. In\nvivo animal experiments reveal the ability of the Janus wound dressing\nto mitigate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the early stages, thereby expediting the wound\nhealing process. In vivo animal study, the Janus wound dressing achieved\na healing rate of 54% on day 3. Our findings underscore the substantial\npotential of the Janus wound dressings in promoting the healing of\nchronic diabetic wounds.