Electrospun nanocomposite dressing integrating cerium dioxide and collagen accelerates pressure injury healing

Summary Pressure injuries (PIs) involve a pathological cycle of oxidative stress, inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis. To address this, we engineered an electrospun nanocomposite dressing—CePC—incorporating cerium dioxide nanoparticles into a polycaprolactone collagen matrix. This dressing could modulate the wound microenvironment. In vitro, it could scavenge reactive oxygen species, protect endothelial cells, enhance vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a murine PI model, the treatment accelerated wound closure, promoted granulation tissue formation and dermal regeneration, and improved functional angiogenesis. Mechanistically, the dressing shifted the macrophage phenotype from a pro-inflammatory to a pro-healing state. These findings demonstrate a strategy that combines nanomaterials and biomaterials to regulate inflammation and vascularization, providing a potential therapeutic approach for PI repair.