From Leaf to Relief: Bioactive polymeric hydrogel films loaded with Psidium Guajava for wound healing potential.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 300,000 people die each year as a result of skin injuries, wounds, cuts or burns and auto immune diseases. Wound healing process is a complex biological process which involves several overlapping phases, hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remolding. Inflammation is the major phase of healing process which plays a crucial role for the startup of repairing process. Untreated wound care can lead to prolonged inflammation and complications. Already available skin dressings are dry in nature. These ordinary dressings do not maintain moisture at wound site and also does not deal with optimal wound healing process. Consequently microbial growth leads to pain in patients. In order to lessen side effects associated with ordinary dressings, transdermal hydrogel films of Moringa oleifera gum (2%) using Psidium Guajava extract (0-4 %) with 0.5% w/v calcium chloride as crosslinking agent were developed by solvent casting method through ionic interaction. First of all gum solution was prepared and dissolved in Polyethylene glycol as plasticizer. Afterwards extract solution was added dropwise and stirred for 15 minutes. Lastly solution was casted in petri dishes and allowed to dry. Higher swelling (%) was observed with formulation having 3 % of guava extract. Physicochemical properties and wound contraction studies were performed on hydrogel films having high mechanical strength and swelling index. The antibacterial activity against staphylococcus aureus causes an inhibition zone (2.9 mm ± 0.004) to form around the hydrogel films. No interaction among polymers and uniform surface morphology which support controlled drug release was observed with FTIR and SEM. In vivo wound healing studies on rats showed 85 % w/w of percentage wound contraction to treat wound within 10 days. Fabricated polymeric hydrogel films were effective bioactive wound dressings due to their significant anti-bacterial activity, high biocompatibility and wound healing efficacy.