Antimicrobial electrospun fibers loaded with carvacrol, citronellol and cinnamic acid for wound healing

Abstract

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are inflammatory microbial invasions of the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue that are highly hazardous, recurrent, and difficult to treat. Conventional antimicrobial therapies are becoming ineffective owing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This concerning scenario urgently calls for novel alternative therapies. Essential oils constitute a natural, safe and cost-effective emerging alternative for the currently used antimicrobial agents due to their promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, and angiogenic activities.1 However, the application of essential oils is limited by their poor water solubility and stability. Electrospun fibers of cyclodextrins may help overcoming these drawbacks.2 To carry out the work, different combinations of cyclodextrins, namely αCD and HPCD, were used to prepared resistant, flexible, highly porous, and permeable electrospun wound dressings characterized by a high surface-to-volume ratio ideal for the local delivery of essential oils. Additionally, the prepared fibers loaded with different types and combinations of essential oils presented antioxidant, angiogenic, and antimicrobial activities against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The biocompatibility and safety of the fibers were demonstrated using the hemolysis test and in ovo tissue integration and angiogenic evaluation. Overall, fibers loaded with essential oils were successfully prepared and characterized, and the presence of the cyclodextrins was shown to be crucial to obtain a high encapsulation efficiency, improving the solubility of essential oils. Furthermore, strong antimicrobial properties, and enhanced antioxidant activity using low amounts of essential oils was also demonstrated. These properties make these fibers a promising cost-effective and safe strategy for treatment of infected wounds.