Developing antioxidant-antimicrobial nanofibers containing Corallina officinalis extract for wound healing.

Abstract

The growing global demand for wound care has revealed the limitations of traditional dressings, particularly their insufficient antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study aims to develop a natural-based nanofibrous dressing that improves wound dressing effectiveness by addressing challenges such as antimicrobial activity and moisture regulation. The research focuses on developing antimicrobial and antioxidant mats using chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and crude Corallina officinalis extract (COE) via electrospinning. A comprehensive evaluation assessed their morphology, structure, mechanical properties, wettability, biodegradation rate, and biological activities. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the integration of all components, while SEM analysis showed bead-free nanofibers with a diameter of 230 ± 5.57 nm, significantly enhancing mechanical strength from 6.62 ± 0.04 MPa to 7.34 ± 0.03 MPa. Adding 3% COE preserved ideal hydrophilicity, biodegradation rates, and swelling index for tissue regeneration. Antibacterial tests showed a zone of inhibition measuring 28.00 ± 0.10 mm against Escherichia coli and 22.00 ± 0.20 mm against Staphylococcus aureus when using a 3% concentration of COE. Additionally, the fabricated dressings effectively prevented bacterial penetration, resulting in negligible colony growth in the culture media. The present study demonstrated that nanofiber dressings significantly enhance the biological activities of COE, particularly its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, the COE and CS/PVA/COE nanofiber mats exhibit excellent biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, promoting skin cell survival and proliferation. So, this research highlights the promising potential of COE-enriched nanofibers in advanced wound care applications.