In-vitro and in-vivo assessment of Polycaprolactone-Chitosan-Pectin imbibed nanofiber potentials as a wound healing biomaterial

The goal of the current study was to evaluate the wound healing potential of electrospun Polycaprolactone—Chitosan—Pectin (PCL-CS-PEC composite nanofiber under in vitro and in vivo conditions in order to determine their appropriateness for its use as wound dressings. 15%, 17%, and 19% PCL-CS-PEC scaffolds were fabricated individually and subjected to various investigations such as hemolysis, swelling, porosity, cell viability, and in-vivo wound healing activity. The collected parameters were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 25 for statistical significance. The current study highlighted that the studied different concentrations of PCL-CS-PEC were hemocompatible since their hemolysis value was found to be less than 5% which is acceptable for any scaffolds or biomaterials universally. The 19% (w/v) PCL-CS-PEC-based scaffold demonstrated the maximum porosity of above 80% across the analyzed concentrations, making it the best choice for tissue engineering applications. The swelling index revealed that 19% of PCL-CS-PEC scaffolds are identified to be superior as it showed 301.7 ± 1.5%, 652.0 ± 2.0%, 902.3 ± 2.1%, and 1151 ± 1.5% for the different time interval of 6,12,18 and 24 h correspondingly than 15% and 17% PCL-CS-PEC nanofiber. Acute dermal toxicity analysis was found to be normal. Wound contraction rate was also found to be superior with 19% PCL-CS-PEC scaffolds than other analyzed concentrations. Our study employed the synthesis of nanofiber with PCL, with an add-on of CS and PEC because PCL has already proven to be wound healing material.