O12 - Dual-Component Scaffolds with Real-Time Biosensing for Diabetic Wound Healing

Saturday, October 11, 2025

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Location: Exhibit Hall F, G & H

Presenting Author(s)

Connor Moore

Undergraduate Student
North Carolina State University
Sanford, North Carolina, United States

Co-Author(s)

NZ

Nooshin Zandi, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
NS

Nivesh Sharma

Doctoral Student
North Carolina State University, United States
MD

Michael Daniele

Faculty Researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & North Carolina State University, United States
AB

Amay Bandodkar

Assistant Professor
North Carolina State University, United States

Last Author(s)

Ashley C. Brown

Lampe Distinguished Professor
North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Primary Investigator(s)

Ashley C. Brown

Lampe Distinguished Professor
North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Introduction: : Chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), affect over 6 million Americans and impose more than $20 billion in annual healthcare costs. These wounds are often difficult to treat due to impaired angiogenesis, abnormal metabolic signaling, and delayed tissue repair. Fibrin scaffolds play a crucial role in normal healing by supporting cell attachment and migration, but they lack sufficient mechanical strength in chronic wound environments. To address this, we developed a dual-component wound healing scaffold by embedding fibrin-based nanoparticles (FBNs) into Strataprene (Str), a porous, elastic polymer that mimics the mechanical properties of skin. To enable real-time, non-invasive metabolic monitoring, a flexible lactate biosensor was integrated into the scaffold. Elevated lactate levels serve as biomarkers of hypoxia and stalled healing in DFUs. This multifunctional system is designed to both support cellular regeneration and provide real-time feedback to guide timely, personalized treatment decisions in diabetic wound care.

Materials and

Methods: : Fibrin-based nanoparticles (FBNs) were synthesized by combining fibrinogen and thrombin in 1X HEPES buffer and ultrapure water, followed by vortexing to form particles. Strataprene scaffolds were fabricated using a salt fusion and leaching technique, resulting in a highly porous and elastic structure. FBNs were embedded into Strataprene to produce the dual-component scaffold (FBN-Str). A flexible electrochemical lactate biosensor was screen-printed onto laser-cut plastic substrates and integrated into the scaffold for real-time monitoring of lactate levels. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFn) were seeded onto the scaffolds in an in vitro wound model created by dissolving circular gelatin inserts, producing cell-free zones that simulate injury sites. Scaffold morphology was assessed by SEM and micro-CT. Cell proliferation and migration were visualized via confocal microscopy, and electrochemical characterization of the sensor was performed using chronoamperometry. Future work includes more in vitro testing and full-thickness diabetic wound models in mice to assess healing progression and biosensor accuracy in vivo.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: AFM imaging revealed fibrillar nanostructures consistent with cross-linked FBNs formed in 1X HEPES buffer (Fig. 1A), and time-course imaging demonstrated progressive hydrogel formation over 24 hours (Fig. 1B). SEM confirmed that embedding FBNs into Strataprene preserved both the fibrin nano-architecture and the scaffold's porous morphology (Fig. 1C).
Confocal imaging of HDFn-seeded scaffolds revealed minimal cell adhesion on Strataprene alone, moderate cell activity with collagen, and robust cell spreading and migration with FBN-Str scaffolds (Fig. 2A-C). The increased cell coverage and cytoplasmic area on FBN-Str supports enhanced bioactivity and indicates greater metabolic demand, justifying the inclusion of a lactate biosensor for real-time monitoring.
Electrochemical analysis of the lactate sensor showed strong selectivity and a linear response to physiologic lactate levels. Chronoamperometry demonstrated minimal difference between PBS and nutrient-rich DMEM background currents (Fig. 3B), confirming media compatibility. Lactate-spiked PBS and DMEM produced nearly identical responses, validating the sensor’s accuracy in biologically relevant environments. A labeled schematic of the flexible lactate biosensor is shown in Fig. 3A, highlighting the design prior to scaffold integration. Sensor testing confirmed that it can accurately monitor lactate levels under in vitro conditions without interference from culture media components.
Together, these findings support the FBN-Str scaffold as a promising dual-function platform that supports tissue regeneration while enabling continuous, non-invasive metabolic monitoring. Future in vivo testing in diabetic mice wound models will assess wound closure, inflammatory response, and biosensor reliability in a healing environment.
This system addresses key limitations in DFU treatment by reducing infection risk, minimizing dressing changes, and enabling earlier interventions based on real-time lactate feedback. The integration of smart sensing with regenerative scaffolds represents a next-generation approach to chronic wound management.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): :