Design of PLGA nanofiber wound dressing enriched with Echinacea purpurea extract and in vitro characterization

Electrospun nanofiber wound dressings potentially provide a highly suitable environment for healing compared to traditional wound dressings, which often fail to meet all the requirements of the wound healing process. This study aimed to develop PLGA nanofibers incorporating silver nanoparticles containing Echinacea extract for use as wound dressings; to perform their characterization tests, and evaluate their wound healing efficacy using in vitro models. Echinacea silver nanoparticles were synthesized using a green synthesis method. PLGA, silver nanoparticle containing PLGA (AgNP/PLGA), 1%, 2%, 3%, Echinacea silver nanoparticle containing PLGA (Ec-AgNP/PLGA) nanofibers were produced by electrospinning method. The nanofibers were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD and antibacterial analysis and evaluated using an in vitro wound scratch test. The average zone diameters of Ec-AgNP/PLGA nanofibers against the E. coli and S. aureus bacteria were found to be 13.5±0.3 mm. The antioxidant capacity analysis of the Echinacea extract used in the study was evaluated by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method and the percentage of DPPH radical removal was calculated as 46.8% and the ascorbic acid equivalent was determined as 35.5 µM. The results demonstrated that Echinacea significantly accelerated wound healing due to its therapeutic and antioxidant properties.