Development of Dialdehyde Bacterial Cellulose-Based Wound Dressing Incorporated with Microencapsulated Centella asiatica Extract and Collagen

Abstract

The skin, as the body’s primary protective barrier, is highly susceptible to injury. Conventional wound dressings mainly act as passive barriers and often lack bioactive properties to actively support healing. This study aims to develop a bioactive wound dressing based on dialdehyde bacterial cellulose (DSB) incorporated with microencapsulated Centella asiatica extract and collagen. Centella asiatica extract was microencapsulated via evaporation followed by ultrasonication using Pluronic F127© as a coating agent. The microencapsulant was then incorporated into the DSB matrix along with collagen through a homogeneous mixing method. The composite was characterized using FTIR, SEM, and PSA, while its bioactivity was evaluated through antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory assays. The developed composite exhibited a porous morphology and suitable structural properties for wound healing. It showed antioxidant activity ranging from 50.78 ± 0.0279% to 62.24 ± 0.0250%. Antibacterial activity was categorized as moderate to weak. Notably, strong anti-inflammatory activity was observed, with inhibition values between 75.36 ± 2.18% and 81.88 ± 2.18%. This study introduces a multifunctional DSB-based composite integrating natural bioactive compounds and microencapsulation technology to enhance stability and therapeutic performance. The developed composite demonstrates promising physicochemical and biological properties, indicating its potential as a sustainable and effective wound dressing material.