Chitosan-based layered nanofibers loaded with herbal extract as wound-dressing materials on wound model studies

In the present study, multilayer electrospun chitosan-based dressing containing Semellil extract (ANGIPARS ™) was fabricated and evaluated as wound dressing. The first layer was polyurethane nanofibers which used as a protective layer, the middle layer was chitosan nanofibers loaded with extract and third layer, chitosan mat, was applied to improve sustained release of dressing. In order to increase the stability of dressings in physiological environment genipin, was applied to crosslink the chitosan nanofibers. So the FE-SEM images indicated stability of genipin cross-linked nanofibers after immersion in PBS. In addition, extract release of the mats were considered by UV absorption in determined wavelength (268 nm). Maintaining 84% cell viability was proved that the genipin-cross-linked dressing containing extract, is nontoxic to human skin fibroblasts. Also the full-thickness wound in rat models was used to evaluate the healing effect of the extract-loaded coatings, moreover, histological performance and significant differences between groups were investigated by one-way ANOVA test. The genipin-cross-linked mats containing extract showed more improved and accelerated wound-healing properties than other samples. This result was confirmed by histological examination and these mats had significantly wound-closure percentage of about 94% after 14 days. All these results indicate that chitosan-based electrospun dressings containing Semellil Melilotus Officinalis extract, due to improved wound healing profile, could be used as a wound dressing.