Development and characterization of skin substitutes from electrospun polycaprolactone/silk fibroin

This study reports the development of electrospun polycaprolactone/silk fibroin (PCL/SF) nanofibrous scaffolds as potential skin substitutes for superficial wound repair. By varying PCL-to-SF ratios and employing a layer-by-layer electrospinning strategy, the authors systematically evaluated scaffold morphology, mechanical performance, wettability, pore structure, biodegradation, and cytocompatibility. Tensile testing demonstrated that incorporation of silk fibroin significantly increased Young’s modulus and tensile strength compared to pure PCL, producing mechanical properties within the range reported for human skin. Increased silk content also enhanced hydrophilicity and surface area, supporting improved keratinocyte proliferation and viability. The layered PS2PS1 scaffold exhibited the most balanced combination of mechanical integrity and bioactivity, highlighting its potential as a mechanically and biologically optimized skin substitute.