Lavandin essential oil combined with the biopolymer PHBV, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), for wound treatment

MERCEDES PÉREZ-RECALDE1; A. GONZÁLEZ WUSENER; P.C. FERNÁNDEZ; I. RUIZ ARIAS1; E.B. HERMIDA

Simposio; 49th International Symposium on Essential Oils (ISEO2018); 2018

In this work, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), PHBV, was combined withlavandin essential oil (LavEO), from Lavandula hybrida grown in Argentina. Linalool(36%), linalyl acetate (29%) 1,8-cineole (6%) and camphor (6%) were its maincompounds as analyzed by GC-MS. PHBV is a biodegradable copolyester from abacterial source; PHBV porous scaffolds have been shown to be suitable for fibroblastand keratinocyte proliferation [1,2] and thus for skin regeneration. In addition, LavEOexhibits strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity, what improves woundhealing [4,5]. Purified monoterpenes and entire EOs have been combined with otherbiopolymers for different applications but scarcely for wound healing and neverpreviously with PHBV [6]. PHBV porous membranes, 100-200 µm thickness, containingLavEO at 2, 4 or 8% m/m were obtained by an emulsion-solvent evaporation method.LavEO-PHBV membranes did not show cytotoxicity when tested on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts(according to the ISO 10993-5 standard). SEM membrane analysis showed, in all cases, ahigh level of porosity, 20% of the surface. Keratinocytes (KC) adhesion and proliferationwere evaluated with the HaCaT cell line. Membranes containing 2 or 4% of LavEO,allowed KC proliferation of the same level as that of PHBV membrane controls.However, cells neither adhered to nor proliferated on membranes with 8% LavEOalthough their hydrophobicity, estimated by the contact angle, was similar to that of 4%-LavEO membranes. The reduction in the elastic modulus?determined by the dynamicmechanical analysis?due to the presence of LavEO, suggests its plasticizer effect (controlE=305±10 MPa; 8%-LavEO membrane E=150±20 MPa). According to these results, 2 or4% LavEO-PHBV membranes seem as a promising treatment, especially in the case ofinfected and chronic wounds, often arrested at the inflammatory phase.