Grape pomace oil loaded PLA electrospun fibers: characterization and evaluation as promising novel bioactive wound dressing

Abstract

Bioactive wound dressings that combine structural support with therapeutic activity are gaining increasing attention in tissue repair applications. This study explores incorporating grape pomace oil (GPO) from winery byproducts into electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) fibers to develop a novel wound dressing. PLA-GPO mats were produced with GPO at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20% w/v) and characterized for their morphological, chemical, and biological properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fiber diameters of 401–911 nm, with increasing GPO content yielding thicker, rougher, and more fused fibers. FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, color measurement, and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed successful GPO encapsulation within the fibers. All mats exhibited hydrophobic surfaces (water contact angles of 100°–132°), and porosity decreased from 89% to 77% with increasing GPO content, while the 10% GPO formulation showed the highest swelling capacity (422%). The mats displayed strong antioxidant activity (up to 69% ABTS radical scavenging) and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis through a contact-killing mechanism, while maintaining excellent blood compatibility (hemolysis < 0.5% for all formulations). Collectively, these results establish PLA-GPO electrospun mats as promising multifunctional platforms for bioactive wound dressing applications, offering a sustainable route to valorize winery byproducts in biomedical materials.