Effects of gallium and clove oil embedded in porous phosphate coacervate glass fibres on wound healing

Abstract

This study investigates Ga-loaded porous phosphate glass fibres (PGFs) coated with clove oil (clv) (1.5 and 3 w/v %) as multifunctional materials capable of antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound healing properties. PGFs were prepared via coacervation combined with supramolecular templating and electrospinning (ES). Porosity was induced via removal of the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) used as a soft template. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that the majority of porous PGFs have diameters ranging from 0.5 to 4 µm and highly porous walls (pores of ∽300 nm diameter). Results have identified PGFs loaded with 1 mol % Ga2O3 and 3 % clv as the ideal composition, exhibiting the strongest radical scavenging (up to ∽70 % DPPH, 53 % ABTS), the highest inhibition of hydroxyl radicals (OH·) (∽ 34 % reduction) and the highest phenolic content (∽ 18 mg GAE/g). Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays revealed that the same PGF formulation enhances H₂O₂ scavenging and improves cytocompatibility in cultured fibroblasts (3T3-L1). All PGFs showed keratinocyte viability higher than ∽ 70 %, indicating good cytocompatibility. Antibacterial testing against Escherichia coli (E. coli) demonstrated that PGFs loaded with 1 mol % Ga2O3 coated with both 1.5 and 3 w/v % clv have antibacterial effects, thanks to the release of Ga ions. In vitro scratch assays using 3T3-L1 cells demonstrated that dissolution products from PGFs containing both Ga and clv significantly accelerate cell migration after 6 hours (h) and induce full wound closure after 24 h. This work demonstrates the successful synthesis of porous PGFs by combining soft templating with the coacervation method and the enhanced beneficial properties of PGFs coated with a natural antioxidant, proving their potential for advanced wound-healing applications.