Water-Based Electrospun HC/PVA/CA Nanofibers for Wound Healing Applications: A Sustainable Strategy for Cell-Proliferative and Antibacterial Functionality

Abstract This study presents an eco-friendly approach for developing advanced wound-dressing materials composed of hydrolyzed collagen (HC), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and a triterpene-rich extract from Centella asiatica (CA). HC/PVA nanofibers were fabricated via needle-free electrospinning using water as a green solvent, followed by glutaraldehyde vapour crosslinking. The incorporation of CA extract (1–7% w/v) significantly influenced fiber morphology and biological functionality. Comprehensive characterization, including SEM, FTIR, rheological analysis, and mechanical testing, revealed systematic modifications of the polymer matrix properties with CA integration. Mechanical testing demonstrated optimal performance at 3% CA, with a tensile strength of 4.82 ± 0.34 MPa and Young’s modulus of 142.5 ± 12.3 MPa. In vitro cell studies demonstrated that 1–3% CA concentrations significantly enhanced fibroblast adhesion and proliferation (with a 142.3 ± 8.5% increase in viability at day 7) as well as collagen synthesis (a 238.5 ± 15.2% increase relative to the control). Antibacterial disc diffusion tests demonstrated effective inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (14.2 ± 1.1 mm at 5% CA) and Escherichia coli (12.8 ± 0.9 mm at 5% CA). These results indicate that HC/PVA/CA nanofibers represent a sustainable multifunctional platform for advanced wound care applications.