Fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation of Melia dubia extract infused nanofibers for wound dressing

Abstract

Open wounds are easily susceptible to infection, so it is necessary to develop a suitable barrier to prevent infection and enhance wound healing. The nanofibers has potential applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Certain phytochemicals are proangiogenic agents and helps in tissue remodeling. The present study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of Melia dubia (MD) leaf ethanolic extract incorporated polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin (Gel) electrospun nanofibers (NFs) for efficient wound dressing applications. The existence of bioactive compounds in MD leaf extract was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GCMS). The fabricated nanofibers are characterized by scanning electron microscope (HRSEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray crystalline diffraction analysis (XRD), contact angle and mechanical strength analysis. Antioxidant and in-vitro drug release was evaluated for NFs. Then antibacterial activity was tested against clinical pathogens and the biocompatibility of the NFs was tested on L929 fibroblast cells by MTT and confocal analysis. GCMS analysis of MD leaf extract confirms the existence of numerous bioactive compounds, that support wound healing. HRSEM analysis revealed that MD leaf extract loaded electrospun nanofibers were smooth, ultrafine, and free of beads with 256 ± 89 nm. The incorporation of the MD leaf extract into the NFs reduced their semi-crystalline nature and increased the tensile strength of the NFs. Contact angle analysis confirmed that incorporation of plant extracts enhanced the hydrophilic nature (22.93 ± 4.3°). The continuous sustained release of drug from initial concentration (∼74 %). In vitro antibacterial analysis revealed that fabricated NFs effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (18.2 ± 1.5 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (26.5 ± 2.0 mm), multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (23.0 ± 0.9 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.1 ± 1.2 mm). In vitro biocompatibility assays revealed that fabricated NFs are not cytotoxic and enhanced the proliferation of fibroblast. The study indicated the possible ability of Melia dubia leaf extract incorporated PCL/Gel NFs in the killing of wound pathogens with biocompatibility towards L929 cells.