Porous Swellable Hypromellose Composite Fortified with Eucalyptus camaldulensis Leaf Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Phenolic-rich Extract to Mitigate Dermal Wound Infections

Abstract

Contagious wound infection has become one of the most common challenges concomitants with the wounds, causing severe inflammatory responses, and ultimately delaying skin tissue regeneration. Herein, a phenolic-rich Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf hydrophobic (ECG) and hydrophilic extract (ECY), in varied content was fortified within a hypromellose polymeric matrix was characterized, and further targeted as an effective antioxidative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hemostasis dressing. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis of ECG and ECY fortified composite indicated significant hydrogen bonding-based cross-linking, while scanning electron microscopy image showed a porous structure. The chromatography profiling demonstrated 0.022 ± 0.02 and 0.027 ± 0.01 µg/mg of quercetin for the ECG and ECY fortified composite, respectively. The antibacterial and antioxidant activity of extract incorporated composite was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of control. Biocompatibility results revealed that composites were compatible with > 80% viability of HaCaT and RAW 264.7 cells. The results of the blood-coagulation and clotting kinetics showed time and dose-dependent hemostasis. Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf hydrophilic extract incorporated composite significantly (p < 0.001) attenuated the nitrite production against lipopolysaccharides-stimulated macrophage cells. Moreover, the HaCaT cell showed migration of 43.59 ± 1.26 (%) and 48.12 ± 1.85 (%) treated with ECG and ECY incorporated composite after 24 h, respectively. Overall, the hydrophilic extract-incorporated composites showed multifarious biological properties, suggesting their potential for comprehensive wound healing dressing. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.