Development and in vitro biological characterization of chitosan films loaded with the Acmella oleracea leaves extract for wound healing application.

The amazonian species Acmella oleracea is traditionally used in the regional food industry and is recognized for its potent biological properties. Nevertheless, A. oleracea remains largely unexplored in biomedical applications. Given the complex, multi-phase nature of wound healing, there is a growing demand for advanced wound dressings. This study aimed to develop chitosan films incorporating different concentrations of a methanol-based extract of A. oleracea (CAOM 1-5 % w/v) for possible wound healing applications. The films were analyzed both physicochemically and biologically in vitro. The results demonstrated interactions among chitosan and the extract (e.g., polyphenols, alkylamides), enabling the prolonged release of bioactive along 8 h. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability up to 40 °C. The CAOM1% films demonstrated significant swelling capacity (172.79 ± 10.86 %), moisture content (23.77 ± 3.56 %), and structural homogeneity. The films were non-toxic, had strong free radical scavenging (90.27 ± 0.93 %) and anti-inflammatory effects, suppressed bacterial growth, and increased cell migration (92.55 ± 5.60 %). Noteworthy, this work is the first to investigate incorporating A. oleracea extract into polymeric films and its in vitro wound healing properties. However, further studies using human cells and in vivo models should confirm the formulation's applicability for wound treatment.