Tissue engineering scaffolds (
TES) can carry numerous biomacromolecules and cells, and they have been widely used in diabetic skin wound healing with positive effects. However, the bioactive retention of biomacromolecules and cells during fabrication and storage is still
a factor restricting their use. Moreover, impaired blood supply in/around poorly healing diabetic skin
wounds has not been considered. In the present study, a bioactive natural substance of Astragalus
polysaccharide (APS), which has stable and confirmed effects on endothelial protection, was embedded into fibrous
TES by electrospinning. The administration of APS-loaded
TES on the skin
wound in a diabetic rat model led to a dose-dependent promotion in skin blood flow around
wounds and an increase in
endoglin expression and microvessel density in regenerated skin tissues. Furthermore, the higher loading of APS in
TES led to faster
collagen synthesis, appendage and epidermal differentiation, and
wound closure. In summary, the combination of APS with
TES is a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic skin wound healing, as it not only mimics the ultrastructure of extracellular matrixes but also restores skin microcirculation.