Novel bilayer wound dressing composed of silicone rubber with particular micropores enhanced wound re-epithelialization and contraction

Wound dressing is critical important for cutaneous wound healing. However, the application of current products is limited due to poor mechanical property, unsuitable water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), poor anti-infective property or poor biocompatibility, etc. In the present study, a microporous silicone rubber membrane bilayer (SRM-B) composed of two layers with different pore sizes was prepared. The physical properties, the influences of pore structure on the bacterial penetration, the cell adhesion and proliferation were studied. Lastly, the effects of the SRM-B on the healing of a mouse full-thickness wound were examined. The data showed that the small pore upper layer of SRM-B could effectively prevent the bacterial invasion, as well as properly keep the water vapor transmission rate; the large pore lower layer of SRM-B could promote the cell adhesion and proliferation. The in vivo results showed that SRM-B could significantly enhance wound re-epithelialization and contraction, which accelerated the wound healing. Our data suggested that the SRM-B, with different particular pore sizes, could serve as a kind of promising wound dressing. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.