Chitosan-Coated Poly(lactic acid) Nanofibres Loaded with Essential Oils for Wound Healing

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Chronic skin wounds present a significant clinical challenge due to their non-healing nature.
• Effective wound dressings are crucial for promoting skin regeneration and restoring physiological integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bioactive wound dressing with antibacterial activity and enhanced fibroblast proliferation.
• To create a functional dressing using electrospun nanofibers incorporating essential oils and chitosan.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers with black pepper essential oil (BP-EO) or limonene (L).
• Coating of porous nanofibers with medium molecular weight chitosan (CS) to create hydrophilic membranes.
• Evaluation of mechanical properties, wettability, antibacterial efficacy, cytotoxicity, and fibroblast interaction.

Main Results:

• Chitosan coating significantly improved the hydrophilicity of the nanofibrous mats.
• The developed dressings demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity.
• The bioactive dressings effectively promoted fibroblast adhesion and proliferation.

Conclusions:

• The developed chitosan-coated PLA/essential oil nanofiber dressings are biocompatible and promote cellular activity.
• These advanced wound dressings show significant potential for improving chronic wound healing.
• The combination of essential oils and chitosan in a nanofibrous scaffold offers a promising strategy for regenerative medicine.