Generation and evaluation of polycaprolactone/gelatin based porous-fibrous scaffolds through a layer-by-layer approach for wound healing

Millions of people worldwide suffer from skin injuries and chronic wounds that surpass the regenerative capacity of native skin. Although autologous grafts, allografts, and xenografts are commonly employed, their use is limited by donor site availability and associated complications. As a result, biomaterial-based engineered scaffolds have emerged as promising alternatives, offering customized extracellular matrix (ECM) architectures with reduced immune rejection. However, conventional freeze-dried porous scaffolds and electrospun-nanofibrous scaffolds fail to replicate the integrated, interconnected pores and fibrous network characteristic of native skin’s porous-fibrous architecture. To overcome these limitations, a porous-fibrous integrated scaffold was developed through alternate layer-by-layer deposition of polycaprolactone over a gelatin matrix. Characterization confirmed desirable physicochemical, morphological, mechanical, and structural features. The fabricated scaffolds exhibited pore sizes ranging from 120–300 µm and porosity of approximately 70–75%, ensuring interconnected microstructures that favor nutrient transport and cell migration. Tensile testing revealed superior mechanical properties compared to gelatin-only scaffolds, with values comparable to the 0.2–0.5 MPa range reported for clinically effective skin substitutes. In vitro evaluation demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility, with enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. This approach enables the fabrication of multilayered scaffolds with gradient fiber architectures, mimicking diverse ECM structures, thereby offering significant potential for advanced skin tissue engineering applications.