Use of ginsenoside Rg3-loaded electrospun PLGA fibrous membranes as wound cover induces healing and inhibits hypertrophic scar formation of the skin

Prevention of hypertrophic scar formation of the skin requires a complex treatment process, which mainly includes promoting skin regeneration in an early stage while inhibiting hypertrophic formation in a later stage. Electrospinning PLGA with the three-dimensional micro/nano-fibrous structure and as drugs carrier, could be used as an excellent skin repair scaffold. However, it is difficult to combine the advantage of nanofibrous membranes and drug carriers to achieve early and late treatment. In this study, Ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3) loaded hydrophilic poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) electrospun fibrous membranes coated with chitosan (CS) were fabricated by combining electrospinning and pressure-driven permeation (PDP) technology. The PDP method was able to significantly improve the hydrophilicity of electrospun fibrous membranes through surface coating of the hydrophilic fibers with CS, while maintaining the Rg3 releasing rate of PLGA electrospun fibrous membranes. Experimental wounds of animal covered with PDP treated fibrous membranes completely re-epithelialized and healed 3-4 days earlier than the wounds in control groups. Scar elevation index (SEI) measurements and histologic characteristics revealed that Rg3 significantly inhibited scar formation 28 days post-surgery. Moreover, RT-PCR assays and western blot analysis revealed that at day 28 after wound induction the expression of VEGF, mRNA and Collagen Type I in the scars treated with Rg3 was decreased compared to control groups. Taken together PLGA-Rg3/CS electrospun fibrous membranes induced repair of tissue damage in the early stage and inhibited scar formation in the late stage of wound healing. These dual-functional membranes present a combined therapeutic approach for inhibiting hypertrophic scars of the skin.