Electrospun Zein/Thyme Essential Oil-Based Membranes as an Effective Antibacterial Wound Dressing.

Wound dressings are an important element in promoting the healing of wounds. Electrospun fibrous materials have a highly porous structure and controllable antibacterial activity and are therefore popular as potential wound dressings. However, electrospun fibrous wound dressings are usually conveniently packaged for immediate use but cannot accommodate irregularly shaped wounds, and their misuse runs the risk of causing a secondary injury to the wound. To overcome these issues, electrospun zein/thyme essential oil (TEO) nanofibrous membranes are proposed as a potential type of wound dressing and applied for wound management through an electrospinning process, which uses a portable electrospinning device. The as-spun zein/TEO membranes show high gas permeability up to 154 ± 20.9 m/s and superhydrophilicity with a 0° contact angle. With the addition of TEO, good antibacterial effects are also imparted onto the membrane to prevent infection. Moreover, the electrospinning can directly deposit the zein/TEO membranes onto the site of the wound to accommodate the shape of the wound with increased convenience and perceived comfort. Experiments carried out on mice suggest that the electrospun zein/TEO membrane greatly promotes the wound healing process within 11 days. The study results, therefore, suggest that wound dressings in the form of electrospun zein/TEO membranes can be used to facilitate wound healing.