Development, characterization and pre-clinical trials of an innovative wound healing dressing based on propolis (EPP-AF®)-containing self-microemulsifying formulation incorporated in biocellulose membranes

The considerable role of pristine bacterial cellulose membranes (BC) as ideal dressings have been widely demonstrated to treat wounds and burns. Nevertheless, drawbacks regarding antimicrobial spectrum and frequent dressing replacement are still present. Based on this, the present work proposes an innovative dressing by incorporating a technological self-microemulsifying formulation (SMEF) encapsulating propolis (BC/PP). BC/PP was fully chemically and biologically characterized employing in vitro and in vivo models. Antimicrobial studies demonstrated BC/PP high efficiency against both gran-negative and gran-positive bacteria. Release studies evidenced propolis markers sustained release for up to 7 days. In vivo wound healing activity was assessed by wound healing rate, anti-inflammatory and tissue formation events and the results evidenced the pro-inflammatory activity of BC/PP, which could promote improved healing results. To conclude, BC/PP presented an outstanding antibacterial activity in vitro with weekly replacement and promotion of healing, offering, for the first time, a broad-spectrum biomembrane potential to treat infected wounds.