Enhanced wound healing with flaxseed extract-loaded polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous scaffolds: Phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and optimize composite nanofibrous scaffolds for enhanced wound healing and antimicrobial applications. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers loaded with ethanolic flaxseed extract were fabricated via solution electrospinning. The methodology focused on optimizing key parameters, including polymer-to-extract ratio, swelling ratio, hydrolytic degradation, and nanofiber mean diameter, to achieve superior scaffold properties. The optimized scaffold, with a PVA-to-flaxseed extract weight ratio of 70:30 (PV70:FS30), exhibited bead-free morphology and a mean fiber diameter of 319 nm (compared to 175 nm for pure PVA fibers). PV70:FS30 scaffolds demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, effectively inhibiting both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial growth. Moreover, human melanocyte (HBF-4) viability and wound healing rates were substantially higher on PV70:FS30 scaffolds than on pure PVA fibers (viability: 122.3% vs. 91.2%; wound closure at 48 h: 97.3% vs. 69.6%, relative to control). However, cell adhesion was lower on PV70:FS30 scaffolds (93 cells/section vs. 183 cells/section for PVA nanofibers) due to increased cross-linking and reduced hydrophilicity from flaxseed extract incorporation. These findings indicate a clear interplay between flaxseed extract concentration and scaffold morphology, highlighting their potential for advancing skin tissue engineering applications. These results provide insights into designing nanofibrous scaffolds for improved wound healing and antimicrobial properties. • The optimized nanofiber scaffold (PVA: flaxseed extract = 70:30) improved wound healing. • Extract-loaded scaffolds displayed increased antimicrobial effect against Gram-(+) and Gram(-)-bacteria. • Extract-loaded scaffolds promoted skin cell viability and showed improved biocompatibility. • Extract-loaded scaffolds promoted wound closure in vitro , for rapid recovery.