An in vitro evaluation of Hypericum perforatum loaded-chitosan nanoparticle/agarose film as a Wound dressing

Wound dressing materials are crucial for accelerating the healing period of chronic wounds. In this study, chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Hypericum perforatum (Hp) were modified with agarose to create wound-healing films and their antimicrobial potential was investigated in vitro. Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles and Hp-loaded nanoparticles were prepared using the ionic gelation method. The synthesized Hp-loaded CS nanoparticles were modified with agarose by the solvent-casting method. Antimicrobial assays were performed using the disk diffusion method and agar well diffusion method. The characterization of nanoparticles and films was performed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), mechanical testing, and swelling testing. The results showed that Hypericum perforatum was loaded into chitosan nanoparticles with a 90.1 ± 2.53 % yield. The sizes of the Hypericum perforatum-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles were 156 ± 22 nm and 69 ± 4.2 nm, respectively. The CS-Hp/Agarose film showed no cytotoxic effect on L929 fibroblast cells and maintained cell viability for 72 h. These results indicate that Hp might be used in wound healing due to its antimicrobial and cell growth-promoting properties.