Research progress of plant protein-based electrospun nanofibers as wound dressings

Abstract

Wound healing is a complex biological process that requires advanced wound dressings to promote healing. With the development of electrospinning technology, electrospun nanofibers have demonstrated superior application potential in wound dressings, thanks to their extracellular matrix-mimicking architecture, high surface area, tunable porosity, wettability, and mechanical strength. Concurrently, the demand for green and sustainable biomaterials has promoted the exploration of plant proteins as alternatives to current materials. This review critically evaluates the history and technical features of electrospinning technology; comparatively describes the properties and electrospinning behaviors of plant proteins from corn, soy, pea, wheat, potato, rapeseed, and sunflower seed, respectively; and systematically summarizes the research progress of various plant protein-based nanofibers as wound dressings. Moreover, the current limitations and potential research directions of plant protein-based wound dressings have also been discussed. Overall, plant protein-based electrospun nanofibers represent a promising, sustainable platform for next-generation wound management.