Mechanical Interlocking Enables Integration of ePTFE with Hydrogel for Accelerating Wound Healing

The ideal wound dressing should integrate robust barrier functions with a moist, breathable, and bioactive healing environment, a combination rarely achieved in clinical practice. We developed a novel hierarchical dressing comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane, a fluorinated copolymer transitional layer, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastic layer, and a human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) hydrogel layer. A mechanical interlocking structure fabricated by sequential electrospinning confers exceptional elasticity (96% shape recovery ratio) and flexibility for dynamic joint coverage. The microporous ePTFE layer (pore size ∼0.12 μm) provides an impermeable barrier against water, contaminants, and bacteria while maintaining high breathability (WVTR: 9652 g/m2/24h). In vitro tests showed excellent hemocompatibility (0.3% hemolysis), pro-hemostatic function, and noncytotoxicity. In a full-thickness wound model, the dressing significantly accelerated wound closure, enhancing angiogenesis and collagen deposition. This integrated strategy synergizes protection, breathability, and bioactivity, holding strong clinical potential for advanced wound management.