New Spanish Broom dressings based on Vitamin E and Lactobacillus plantarum for superficial skin wounds

The focus of this work was to develop innovative dressings based on Spanish Broom gauzes loaded with Vitamin E− Lactobacillus plantarum association for the treatment of skin wounds. Vitamin E and L. plantarum, selected for antioxidant and antibacterial properties, were incorporated inside an emulsion containing alginate in the external phase and then lyophilized on Spanish Broom fibers. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that Vitamin E was successfully encapsulated inside polymeric coating. The morphology, zeta potential and yield of freeze-dried emulsion were evaluated. Encapsulation efficiency of Vitamin E and L. plantarum was also assessed, as well as release behaviors. Moreover, the Spanish Broom wound dressings were biologically characterized in terms of biocompatibility, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Freeze-dried emulsion was able to provide the 100% yield, good entrapment efficiency (∼65%) and it guaranteed a good antioxidant activity. Spanish Broom dressing revealed good antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and it was not toxic to human fibroblasts. Moreover, sustained release of both Vitamin E and L. plantarum were guaranteed over 24 h, as well as a good viability of L. plantarum during storage conditions. In conclusion, Spanish Broom dressing loaded with the freeze-dried emulsion based on Vitamin E− L. plantarum could be a promising delivery system for the wound care.