Nowadays, with the increasing concern about the environment, the use of biodegradable polymers has been the focus of numerous investigations, particularly for the development of wound care dressings. Some examples of these polymers are: PCL (poli(ɛ-caprolactone)), CS (chitosan), Gel (gelatin) and PEO (poly(ethylene oxide)), which are very promising polymers due to their excellent properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and bioactivity.
The development of electrospinning nanofiber membranes based on polymeric solutions has been widely explored for wound care as they have high surface area, high porosity and even possibility of incorporation of bioactive agents. In fact, the use of natural-based reinforcing agents, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as well as natural extracts (basil, propolis and acacia), allows the improvement and introduction of new properties including mechanical strength, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the main objective of this study is the development of nanofibers by electrospinning technique using biodegradable polymers, CNC and natural extracts for wound dressing applications with localized release of active agents.
