Deep cuts from accidents or surgeries require stitches, typically followed by oral anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. While these medications help with pain, they don’t act specifically on the wounds. Consequently, the site of the stitches can get inflamed, which could slow healing and lead to scarring.

Researchers work with electrospun polymers, which have emerged as an attractive material for wound-healing technologies. Under high voltage, polymer solutions are drawn into delicate nanofibers that can be molded into different shapes, including dissolvable stitches, and provide a surface for regenerating tissues.