The management of
surgical wounds incurred during
tumor removal procedures has become a non-negligible issue. Herein, for the first time, an implantable
polymer-based nanofiber matrix is developed for postoperative
tumor management by promoting wound healing and preventing
cancer recurrence. The multifunctional matrix is successfully prepared by assembling
chitosan-stabilized Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) at the surface of
polydopamine (PDA) modified poly(ε-
caprolactone)/
curcumin fibres (PCL/CUR), denoted as PCL/CUR/PDA@Se. In this system, PDA as functionalized layers coated onto the PCL/CUR surface favors the effective immobilization of SeNPs through a covalent bond, as well as acts as a gatekeeper guaranteeing the sustained release of CUR. The CUR/SeNPs present excellent antitumor efficacy, respectively, which supports the nanocomposite matrix to efficiently kill
cancer cells in vitro by inducing
mitochondrial dysfunction caused by the ROS overproduction, and significantly suppressing the
tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, due to the synergistic
antioxidant activity of CUR and SeNPs, the nanofibrous matrix distinctly facilitates the adhesion and proliferation of normal fibroblast cells, and simultaneously accelerates wound healing during
tumor treatments in
tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest that the PCL/CUR/PDA@Se matrix with bifunctional properties is a promising candidate for local
tumor-
wound therapy. This work offers an innovative strategy to develop new improved post-surgery
therapies for
cancer patients.