Enhanced cellular response elicited by addition of amniotic fluid to alginate hydrogel-electrospun silk fibroin fibers for potential wound dressing application

[Display omitted] •Silk fibroin nanofibers was fully covered with alginate hydrogel containing amniotic fluid.•Different dressings were made by changing the alginate to amniotic fluid ratio.•Increasing alginate concentration reduced the in vitro release of amniotic fluid proteins.•Poor cellular activity of alginate hydrogel enhanced by amniotic fluid. This study aimed to evaluate a novel bioactive wound dressing from alginate hydrogel-electrospun silk fibroin (SF) fibers with the ability to deliver amniotic fluid (AF) to the wound site. AF is highly enriched with multiple therapeutic agents that can promote cellular response and wound healing. In this study, electrospun SF fibers were first fabricated by electrospinning method and then combined with the alginate hydrogel (ALG) containing AF. Different dressings were made by changing the alginate to AF ratio. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed that SF fibers were fully covered with alginate hydrogel. In addition, the modulus of the dressing decreased by lowering ALG/AF ratios, while a reverse trend was observed for the elongation-at-break. In vitro AF release profiles indicated that an increase in the concentration of ALG leads to a reduction in the AF amount. Fibroblast culturing on the fabricated dressings demonstrated that cellular proliferation, spreading, and secretion of collagen enhanced with increasing AF. Taken together, our results provide a novel bioactive dressing with great potentials for speeding up the healing process in severe wounds.