Synthesis of Yttria Nanoparticle-Loaded Electrospun Nanofibers for Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity, Biofilm Inhibition, and Alleviation of Diabetic Wounds

Diabetes-related sores and ulcers are quite common around the world and can cause complicated disruptions to both patient compliance and socioeconomic structure. Diabetic wounds take longer to heal due to pathophysiological causes, persistent infections, and increasingly severe medical problems. Nanoparticles (NPs) derived from nanotechnology have drawn interest due to their revolutionary potential in understanding the biological milieu and offering therapeutic strategies for wound healing. In this regard, the potential of yttrium oxide nanoparticles (YNPs) has been studied extensively to understand their efficacy in diabetic wound healing. Yttrium oxide nanoparticles having size in the range of 2-10 nm were prepared and incorporated into nanofibrous mats consisting of polyurethane as the matrix polymer, and leaf extract of <i>Azadirachta indica</i> and clindamycin hydrochloride as additive conventional antidiabetic and antibacterial agents to form S3. Physicochemical characterization tests confirmed the formation of nanofibers having average diameters in the range of 320-470 nm, respectively. The study demonstrated that S3 shows an enhanced zone of inhibition against <i>E. coli</i> (29 mm), <i>S. aureus</i> (32 mm), and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> (30 mm). Moreover, the nanofibrous mats also prevented microbial penetration and biofilm formation, as observed from MTT, CV, and confocal microscopy images. <i>In vivo</i> wound healing study conducted on diabetic mice revealed that S3 exhibited high wound contraction after 9 days of treatment. Additionally, the fabricated mat lowered plasma glucose levels, hepatotoxicity, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Therefore, it can be concluded that YNP-loaded nanofibrous composite mats have a strong potential in alleviating diabetic wounds.