Evaluation of Melaleuca alternifolia essencial oil addition on the properties of PCL/CNC electrospun mats

Abstract

The healing process is complex and consists of several phases, such as hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling with the formation of scar tissue. An ideal wound dressing, which acts effectively in the regeneration of injured tissue, should act adequately in all phases of the healing process. In this sense, in the regular doctoral project, a dressing based on polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibers, added with functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCF) and loaded with Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (OEMa) was proposed. The composition of the material was specially selected to optimize the healing process phases. The polymeric matrix behaves like a protection, which molds itself to the surface of the wound; OEMa acts as an antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agent; and the CNCF help in the stages of cell adhesion and proliferation, in addition to providing PCL nanofibers with gains in terms of mechanical properties. Therefore, based on the combination of these materials, the wound dressing should be effective at all the healing process stages. However, in the regular doctoral project, not all these properties will be evaluated. In this way, this Research Internship Abroad (BEPE) project aims to complement the current regular doctoral project, through the implementation of techniques that will characterize and standardize the proposed material in relation to the properties not yet studied, but that are essential to the development of a good wound dressing. The main characterizations that are intended to be carried out during the BEPE period are the study of the release kinetics of OEMa from the samples, estimate of the OEMa encapsulation efficiency into the nanofibers, evaluate the anti-inflammatory capacity and antioxidant activity of the samples and determine mechanical properties of uniaxial traction. With the results of these studies, the prepared material will have greater relevance for its application in the soft tissue regeneration field. (AU)