Protective effects of electrospun PVP nanofibers incorporating Polygonum cognatum extract in skin cells under hypoxic conditions: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial surface functionality.

In this study, PVP nanofibers loaded with Polygonum cognatum (madimak) extract (PVP-F + ME) and pure PVP nanofibers (PVP-F) were developed to evaluate their biological effects on HDFa cells under a CoCl₂-induced hypoxia-like model. The nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning and characterized by FTIR and SEM, confirming successful incorporation of the extract and morphological changes in fiber structure. MTT and LDH assays showed that both formulations maintained cell viability under oxidative stress, while scratch assays indicated enhanced fibroblast migration. RT-qPCR results demonstrated that PVP-F + ME significantly downregulated CoCl₂-induced expression of HIF-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and normalized antioxidant-related genes such as SOD2 and GPx. Antibacterial testing revealed selective activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis). Overall, the findings suggest that PVP-based nanofibers, particularly when enriched with madimak extract, provide protective, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects with potential applications in wound healing.