# Bionic Bovine Achilles Tendon Collagen Composite Membrane Loaded with Anti-Inflammatory Kukoamine B Promotes Skin Wound Healing

## TL;DR

A collagen-based wound dressing loaded with an anti-inflammatory compound promotes skin healing in mice.

## Contribution

A novel BATC composite membrane with KuB is developed and shown to enhance wound healing.

## Key findings

- BATC composite membranes showed good physicochemical and biocompatible properties.
- The EBPK membrane significantly promoted wound healing in a mouse model.
- KuB is identified as a promising component for wound dressings due to its clear mechanism.

## Abstract

Skin is the first line of defence between the human body and the outside world, and it is constantly exposed to external injuries and wounds for a variety of reasons. Collagen is a structural protein of the extracellular matrix and an important component of the dermis. As a wound dressing, collagen not only provides nutrients to wounds but also enhances the immune response in the pre-healing phase, making it an excellent biomaterial for healing. In this study, we used electrospinning and freeze-drying technology to prepare a Bovine Achilles Tendon Collagen (BATC) electrospun composite membrane and a BATC freeze-dried composite membrane using BATC as a substrate supplemented with 16.7% Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and 0.2% Kukoamine B (KuB). The physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of the BATC composite membrane were verified via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and DSC analysis and by measuring the DPPH radical-scavenging capacity, water absorption, water retention, in vitro drug release, and extract cytotoxicity. The BATC composite membrane was found to have a significant effect on skin wound healing, especially in the middle stage of healing, in a mouse full-thickness skin injury model. The BATC/PEO/KuB electrospun composite membrane (EBPK) had the best capacity for promoting wound healing and can be used as a wound dressing for in-depth research and development, and KuB, a monomer component with a clear structure and mechanism of action, can be used as a candidate component of composite dressings.