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Electrospun Polymeric Nanofibers Incorporating Brazilian Red Propolis Extract for Wound Dressing Applications
Maria Sirlene Morais1, Paulo Augusto Marques Chagas1, Gustavo Cardoso da Mata2
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil.
Pharmaceutics
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed electrospun nanofibrous mats incorporating Brazilian red propolis extract (BRPE) for chronic wound management. These novel wound dressings show antimicrobial activity and improved cell viability, offering potential for advanced wound care applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Wound Healing
Background:
- Chronic wounds present management challenges due to inflammation, microbial colonization, and exudate.
- Advanced wound dressings require structural integrity, bioactivity, antimicrobial properties, and cytocompatibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop electrospun nanofibrous mats using gelatin, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with and without Brazilian red propolis extract (BRPE).
- To evaluate the impact of BRPE incorporation on solution properties, fiber morphology, fluid interaction, antimicrobial activity, and cytocompatibility.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of BRPE (solid content, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, HPLC-DAD).
- Electrospinning of polymer solutions (gelatin, PVA, PCL) with and without BRPE.
- Characterization of mats (SEM, porosity, FTIR, HPLC-DAD) and assessment of performance (swelling, degradation, antimicrobial assays, MTT cytocompatibility assays).
Main Results:
- Electrospinning produced continuous, defect-free nanofibers (94-224 nm diameter) with consistent porosity.
- BRPE-loaded mats exhibited microorganism-dependent antimicrobial activity, notably against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Selected electrospun formulations (A1.1, A3.1) demonstrated improved HaCaT cell viability compared to free BRPE.
Conclusions:
- Electrospinning effectively incorporated BRPE into polymeric nanofibers, modulating material properties for wound dressing applications.
- The developed nanofibrous mats show potential as multifunctional wound-dressing platforms.
- Further optimization is needed to enhance wet-state structural stability, mechanical performance, and controlled bioactive release.
