This study introduces novel chitosan (CS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) copolymers reinforced with bacterial cellulose (BC) to fabricate nanofibers using the electrospinning method. SEM analysis confirmed uniform nanofiber formation, with CS/PEO/BC nanofibers (~240 nm) exhibiting a larger diameter than CS/PEO ones (~190 nm). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed BC integration, while Differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated minimal impact on glass transition temperature. Notably, as compared to CS/PEO nanofibers, the CS/PEO/BC ones demonstrated superior swelling capacity, accelerated biodegradation, and enhanced mechanical (i.e., tensile) properties, with maximum stress and strain values of ~3.41 MPa and ~0.01% vs. ~2.14 MPa and ~0.01%. Antimicrobial assays confirmed activity against bacterial strains, and biocompatibility tests showed high cell viability at day seven (99.26% for CS/PEO/BC nanofibers). These findings highlight the potential of CS/PEO/BC nanofibers as promising candidates for tissue engineering, offering improved strength, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties.

Melanoma excision procedures frequently result in complex wounds that require simultaneous tumor suppression and tissue regeneration. However, current post-surgical care heavily relies on synthetic drugs, facing challenges like antibiotic resistance and delayed healing. To address this notable gap, this study introduces a novel “mineral-botanical” hybrid nanofibrous dressing to reduce reliance on conventional synthetic agents. The nanofiber surfaces were subsequently functionalized with a supercritical CO₂ extract of Inula helenium, thereby introducing a highly bioactive botanical agent not previously explored in this hybrid wound-care context. Comprehensive physical and structural characterizations demonstrated that the bioactive coating serves as a resilient physical barrier, significantly enhancing the dressing’s structural integrity in fluidic environments. In vitro biological evaluations revealed a dual-action mechanism: the biomaterial exhibited excellent biocompatibility and accelerated migration in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), achieving nearly 100% in vitro wound closure at 24 h. Conversely, the Inula helenium-coated nanofibers demonstrated distinct, selective cytotoxicity against A375 melanoma cells, effectively restricting their proliferation and reducing their viability. Furthermore, the hybrid platform exhibited significant antioxidant potential and achieved 94% antibacterial inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, this study presents a sustainable, dual-function wound dressing that suppresses residual cancer cells while promoting healthy tissue regeneration, offering a promising alternative to conventional synthetic oncological dressings.

Hybrid nanofibrous mats comprising distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic fiber populations were fabricated by simultaneous dual-nozzle co-electrospinning for potential wound-dressing applications. Four formulations—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–polycaprolactone (PCL), PVA/Chitosan (CS)–PCL, PVA-PCL/Tea Tree Oil (TTO), and PVA/CS-PCL/TTO—were systematically evaluated in terms of their morphological, physicochemical, mechanical, release, and in vitro cellular properties. All formulations exhibited continuous, bead-free fiber morphologies. FTIR and DSC analyses indicated the physical incorporation of CS and TTO and composition-dependent changes in polymer-chain organization. TTO incorporation improved surface wettability, decreasing the water contact angle to 46.69 ± 2.80° and 57.05 ± 1.40° in the CS-free and CS-containing formulations, respectively. The PVA/CS-PCL/TTO mat exhibited the highest tensile strength (19.17 ± 3.06 MPa) and strain at break (10.82 ± 1.81%). Cumulative TTO release reached 97.63–99.75% within 8 h. MTT analysis showed favorable HDF metabolic activity, with the highest response observed for PVA/CS-PCL/TTO on day 7. Overall, the results support the further investigation of these hybrid nanofibrous mats as potential wound-dressing platforms.