Bioactive nanofibrous mats constructs: Separate efficacy of Lawsonia inermis and Scrophularia striata extracts in PVA/alginate matrices for enhanced wound healing

Abstract

The study explores the use of electrospinning technology to create advanced wound dressing materials by integrating natural extracts from Lawsonia inermis (LI) and Scrophularia striata (SS) into nanofibrous matrices composed of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Alginate (ALG). These macromolecular complexes aim to leverage the unique properties of the botanical extracts for wound healing purposes. The research assesses the physical, chemical, and mechanical attributes of the nanofibrous constructs as well as their antimicrobial activities and ability to promote wound repair. Evaluation of Cellular Viability and Cytotoxicity (MTT) tests showed high biocompatibility of the nanofibrous mats, with cell viability percentages of 92 % for LI-loaded mats and 89 % for SS-loaded mats. The antibacterial rate of extract-containing mats was 70 % higher than non-extract-containing mats. In vivo assessments on rat models with burn injuries demonstrated that mats containing LI and SS extracts substantially accelerate tissue regeneration and overall healing. Nanofibrous mats containing LI extract showed a 45 % faster wound healing process than the control, while those containing SS extract showed a 40 % improvement. Overall, the study highlights the potential of PVA/ALG nanofibrous mats augmented with LI and SS extracts as effective platforms for wound management, offering enhanced properties for superior healing outcomes.