Bioactive Hydrofiber Dressings with Quince (Cydonia oblonga) Seed Mucilage for Cutaneous Tissue Repair

Since the skin is the outermost organ with the largest surface area, any disruption to this tissue can significantly affect human life. Such injuries often lead to hospitalization, pain, trauma, risk of scarring, and infections, and therefore require immediate treatment. Hydrofiber systems and wound dressings are extensively investigated and represent innovative fields that support skin regeneration, prevent infections, and promote rapid recovery with reduced pain. Biologically active ingredients play a crucial role in modulating biological and cellular pathways and are widely applied in wound healing and skin regeneration strategies. Natural polymers, due to their biological origin, inherent bioactivity, and their ability to mimic naturally occurring growth factors, are considered promising candidates for wound healing applications. Nature serves as a rich source of biopolymers, and plant extracts have been used since time immemorial for therapeutic purposes. Cydonia oblonga, commonly known as quince, is recognized for its diverse bioactivities that support wound healing and the treatment of skin ailments. In this study, a commercially available hydrofiber dressing enriched with quince seed mucilage (QSM) was evaluated. The QSM enrichment demonstrated improved cellular viability in Human Keratinocyte Cell Lines (HaCaT) when compared to control and hydrofibers.