Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds from waste-derived collagen and cellulose acetate for enhanced wound healing

Tissue regeneration to address traumatic injuries such as wound openings necessitates the utilization of advanced and multifunctional materials in dressing fabrication. In this investigation, nanofibrous mats were engineered via electrospinning, employing collagen extracted from untanned rawhide trimmings using bromelain enzyme, dried jackfruit leaves-derived cellulose acetate (CA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and tea tree essential oil (EO) for wound healing applications. The spinning dope comprising collagen/CA/PVA/EO at a ratio of 1:0.1:1:0.2, with a flow rate of 0.8 mLh^-1, voltage of 23 kV, and spinning distance of 15 cm, demonstrated the optimal nanofibrous mat formation. The characteristics of the produced nanofibrous mats were investigated using FT-IR, TGA, FE-SEM with EDX analysis, and DTA. The mat, with a fiber diameter of 77.88 nm, thickness of 0.14 mm, elongation at break of 105%, and tensile strength of 5.87 MPa, exhibited optimal properties, confirming its suitability for wound dressing applications. The inclusion of EO endowed the dressing with notable antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus (29 ± 0.05 mm) and Escherichia coli (26 ± 0.11 mm). Evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity revealed no adverse effects, with 95% viability recorded on the Vero cell line. In vivo experimentation using a mice model showcased accelerated wound healing within 8 days, facilitating rapid re-epithelialization, reduced epidermal thickness (9.33 ± 1.35 μm), minimized scar formation (352.36 ± 50.56 μm), and collagen anisotropy (0.155 ± 0.021). These findings emphasized the promising potential of the nanofibers as an innovative wound dressing material, offering significant implications for clinical practice and biomedical research.