Abstract
The use of natural biocompatible drugs is highly desirable in wound dressing compared to synthetic chemicals. Oregano essential oil (OEO) is a promising natural compound with marked antibacterial, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. The topical delivery of OEO may result in lower therapeutic efficacy and irritation to the skin. Moreover, OEO is a volatile compound results in instability as well. To overcome these drawbacks, we successfully encapsulated OEO in Poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL)/Silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers membrane (NF) and achieved the encapsulation efficiency (%) up to 59.14 +/- 0.58. The fabricated membranes were undergone through physicochemical as well as biological evaluation. SEM characterization revealed that OEO could be successfully encapsulated maintaining a smooth profile of nanofibers. The biocompatibility of the NF membrane was confirmed by cytotoxicity assay. Antibacterial results indicated that OEO containing nanofibrous membranes are highly active against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The result revealed that 5% is the optimized concentration of OEO capable to completely inhibit bacterial growth. Moreover, the NF membranes were evaluated for their in vivo wound healing potential. The results confirmed that OEO containing NF membrane is not only capable to accelerate the wound contraction but also enhances the quality of wound healing confirmed through histology analysis. H&E and Masson's trichrome staining indicated the neoepithelialization, granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition in a group treated with PLCL/SF/5% OEO. Based on the physicochemical and biological evaluation, PLCL/SF/5% OEO NF membrane can be considered as a potential wound dressing candidate.