Biomedical Efficacy of Garlic‐Extract‐Loaded Core‐Sheath Plasters for Natural Antimicrobial Wound Care

Abstract

Abstract This work explores the application of Allium sativum (Garlic) extract, in the creation of novel polymeric core‐sheath fibers for wound therapy applications. The core‐sheath pressurized gyration (CS PG) technology is utilized to mass‐produce fibers with a polycaprolactone (PCL) core and a polyethylene oxide (PEO) sheath, loaded with garlic extract. The produced fibers maintain structural integrity, long‐term stability and provide a cell‐friendly surface with rapid antibacterial activity. The physical properties, morphology, therapeutic delivery, cytotoxicity, thermal and chemical stability of PCL, PEO, PEO/Garlic, Core‐Sheath (CS) PEO/PCL and PEO/Garlic/PCL fibers are analyzed. Findings show that the addition of garlic extract greatly increases the fibers’ thermal durability, while decreasing their diameter, thus improving cell adhesion and proliferation. In‐vitro release tests reveal a rapid release of garlic extract, which has significant antibacterial action against both Gram‐negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria species. Cell viability experiments validate the fiber samples' biocompatibility and nontoxicity, making them appropriate for integrative medicine applications. These core‐sheath structures emphasize the potential of combining natural therapeutic agents with advanced material technologies to develop cost‐effective, sustainable and highly effective wound dressings, offering a promising solution to the growing concerns associated with conventional synthetic antibacterial agents.

Keywords

• antibacterial
• cell‐compatible
• garlic plasters
• naturopathic healthcare
• wound healing