Incorporation of phytochemicals into electrospun scaffolds for wound-healing applications in vitro and in vivo

Despite advances in wound treatment, wound-associated infections and delayed healing still remains an 'unmet clinical need'. The present treatment modalities include topical application of ointments and perhaps it may better be substituted by phytochemical incorporated nanofibers which increases wound-healing efficiency and reduce risk of infections. Hence, the aim of this study was to synthesiseAreca catechu-incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds for wound-healing applications. In this study, the tender nut ofAreca catechuplant was collected and extracted with ethanol using the maceration technique. The presence of various active phytochemical constituents of ethanolic fraction ofAreca catechulike phenol, flavonoid, tannin and alkaloid were identified qualitatively and estimated quantitatively.Areca catechuincorporated 10%w/w polycaprolactone scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterised physico-chemically by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope analysis. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis was evaluated with L929 fibroblasts and in vivo wound-healing studies using rat models for both polycaprolactone andAreca catechu-incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds. Extract ofAreca catechuexhibited antioxidant properties and antibacterial activity againstStaphylococcus aureusandPsuedomonus aeruginosa. Scanning electron microscope image revealed the nanofibrous structural morphology ofAreca catechu-incorporated polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone with average diameter of 350 and 399 nm, respectively. The characteristic peak of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy depicted the presence of biomolecules and detection of functional groups confirming the incorporation ofAreca catechuinto the polycaprolactone scaffold. Furthermore, cells were cytocompatible with 85% viability overAreca catechu-incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds, and wounds treated withAreca catechu-incorporated polycaprolactone healed faster with a significant difference in the wound area than polycaprolactone controls. The phytochemical-incorporated polycaprolactone scaffolds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, biocompatible and wound-healing properties is proposed to be an indigenous approach towards wound care management globally and seems to be better and cost-effective wound dressings.