Development of Nanofiber Mats Impregnated With <i>Ferula assa-foetida</i> Essential Oil Nanogel for Antibacterial Wound Care

Bacterial infections pose significant threats to human health, and the rising issue of antibiotic resistance necessitates exploring alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, <i>Ferula assa-foetida</i> essential oil (EO) as an herbal medicine was first analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Polycaprolactone-gelatin nanofibers were then prepared via electrospinning. Biological efficacies (antioxidant and antibacterial properties) of nanofibers impregnated with the nanogel containing the EO were finally investigated. As a result, the five major identified compounds were ethyl trifluoromethyl disulfide (33.6%), β-pinene (15.1%), δ-3-carene (6.6%), dihydro-β-agarofuran (6.0%), and γ-eudesmol (5.5%). Nanogel was developed from a primary nanoemulsion, with a 55 ± 7 nm droplet size and a zeta potential of -31 ± 2 mV. Nanofibers with a hydrophobic surface (contact angle (<i>θ</i>) 107°) impregnated with the nanogel demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy, inhibiting the growth of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> by nearly 100% and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> by 90%. These findings suggest that the developed formulation has the potential to serve as an effective antibacterial wound dressing, warranting further investigation.