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Hilal YENICI, Ayse Betul BINGOL, Busra OKTAY, Fatih CIFTCI, Cem Bulent USTUNDAG; Development of an antibacterial wound dressing to support healing and follicle retention after hair transplantation

Hair transplantation is a common method against hair loss; however, postoperative follicular inflammation can endanger graft viability and thereby complicate the procedure. In this study, a novel biocompatible wound dressing was developed to reduce post-hair transplantation inflammation, using electrospinning to fabricate a nanofiber wound dressing based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hyaluronic acid (HA), and Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina). PVA, a biocompatible and flexible polymer, HA, a component with moisturizing and wound-healing properties, and spirulina, possessing antibacterial and antioxidant activities, were selected as bioactive additives. The obtained antibacterial wound dressings were subjected to chemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial analyses, and their drug release profiles were evaluated. Formulations containing different concentrations of spirulina were characterized in terms of bioactivity. Spirulina-containing membranes exhibited strong antioxidant potential. Moreover, ethanolic extracts of spirulina demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, particularly at 3% and 5% concentrations. Overall, the PVA/HA/Spirulina nanofiber wound dressing exhibited antibacterial, antioxidant, and controlled release properties. These findings suggest that this material has the potential to reduce infection, accelerate wound healing, and enhance follicular retention after hair transplantation.

Keywords: Arthrospira platensis, follicle retention, hair transplantation, spirulina, wound dressing