Antibacterial effects of impregnated scaffolds with solid lipid nanoparticles gels containing three essential oils against standard and clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Wound healing is a complicated process that is affected by physiological and environmental conditions. An antibacterial agent and a physical supporter as wound dressing improve wound healing time and process. In this study, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) containing Mentha longifolia, Mentha pulegium, and Zataria multiflora essential oils with a particle size of 103±5, 195±4, and 130±7 nm were first prepared, and they were then transformed to gels. After that, scaffolds of electrospun polycaprolactone-alginate nanofibers (165±37 nm) were prepared. Chemical properties, surface hydrophilicity, and size and morphology of scaffolds were investigated using ATR-FTIR, contact angel, and SEM analyses. The gels were physically impregnated at two different amounts on the scaffolds, and antibacterial effects at 2, 6, and 24 h of incubation times were determined using the ATCC100 method. Impregnated scaffold with SLNs gel containing Z. multiflora essential oil showed higher antibacterial activity against all standard and clinical bacterial strains at incubation times. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus decreased by more than 90% in all incubation times. Besides, more than 60% reduction in the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed after 24 h incubation time. As high potency and green constituents of the prepared prototype, it could be considered for clinical trials.