Chronic wounds are a burden on the healthcare systems. Factors that affect wound healing include the health status of the patient as well as bacterial infections and inflammation, which delay wound healing and may cause a chronic wound. The use of electrospun polymeric fibers in the form of dressings is being explored as drug delivery systems for wound management. They allow gas exchange and provide physical and mechanical protection. They are also cytocompatible and biodegradable, mimic the native extracellular matrix structure and deliver antibacterial agents locally into the wound. The high surface area and homogenous drug distribution optimize drug delivery by improving the bioavailability and controlled release of the drug.

Protein solutions have been used to produce nanofibers using the solution electrospinning process into which antimicrobial agents are incorporated. Antimicrobial agents that have been incorporated into such fibers include antibiotics, antimicrobial nanoparticles, antimicrobial peptides, antibacterial plant extracts and even an antibacterial virus. The proteins used are of plant and animal origin. The plant proteins include zein protein, soy protein and pea protein, while the animal proteins include casein, whey, lactoferrin and lysozyme (from milk) and collagen and elastin (from connective tissue). Using proteins as antimicrobial delivery system enhances cytocompatibility and also imparts a higher biodegradation rate vis-à-vis synthetic polymers. Factors that influence selection of proteins for electrospinning include their origin, availability, purity, composition, cost, manufacturing, and allergenicity. Proteins with low nutritional value and those which occur as manufacturing by-products are preferred as the most cost-effective and eco-friendly options. The use of natural biomolecules offers a sustainable wound management approach, which is not only economical but also an environmental-friendly alternative to synthetic polymers. However, this technology is not without its challenges. Different methods used for extraction and purification may affect the reproducibility during electrospinning; the organic solvents and high voltage used may potentially damage the protein structure resulting in loss of some activity. Use of water as a solvent may disrupt the electrospinning process and also affect the stability of fibers.

Akhmetova A, et al. Pharmaceutics. 2020 Dec 22;13(1):4.