Electrospun fiber mats and hydrogels containing herbal substances for biomedical applications

Abstract

New biomaterial effective for use as topical/transdermal patches or wound dressings containing herbal substances (gallic acid, caffeic acid, and Eupatorium adenophorum essential oil) were developed. In order to improve the antioxidant properties, gallic acid, a natural phenolic antioxidant, was incorporated in PLLA electrospun fiber mats. The release characteristic of gallic acid from these materials were investigated by the total immersion method. Incorparation of gallic acid in the PLLA electrospun fibers improved the antioxidant properties. Caffeic acid (CA) was chemically immobilized onto the individual fiber surface of electrospun PLLA fiber mats to enhance the hydrophilicity and impart the antioxidant activity to the fibrous membrane. Indirect cytotoxicity evaluation, with murine dermal fibroblasts (L929) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa) revealed that the neat and the modified PLLA fibrous matrices in the level that were not harmful to the cells. Moreover, the wound dressing application was explored by the studies of gelatin hydrogels containing E. adenophorum essential oil emulsion which could be fabricated into casting-films and improved its water resistance properties by crosslinking with glutaralgehyde. It showed the antibacterial activities against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. In addition, the mangosteen extract-loaded polyacrylonitrile fiber mats were fabricated for filter application as a surgical mask. This study demonstrated a convenient procedure and the potential to develop antimicrobial and antituberculosis properties of electrospun fibrous membranes containing Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen extract).