Multifunctional cotton wound dressings enhanced with bitter apple fruit extract-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

Wound healing is a complex process influenced by factors such as oxidative stress, microbial infections, and impaired tissue regeneration. Conventional dressings offer basic wound coverage but often lack therapeutic efficacy, particularly antimicrobial and antioxidant properties essential for optimal healing. In this study, a multifunctional wound dressing by treating the cotton fabric with bitter apple fruit extract (BAFE)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). BAFE-loaded SLNs were synthesized using homogenization and ultrasonication processes, yielding nanoparticles with an average diameter of 121.2 nm. The treated cotton fabric with BAFE-loaded SLN demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against the tested species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, as evidenced by significant zones of inhibition (ZOI) and bacterial viability reduction. The treated cotton fabric with BAFE-loaded SLN demonstrated potent antibacterial activity, with zones of inhibition reaching 32 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and significant reductions in bacterial viability within 60-120 min. The formulation also exhibited strong antibiofilm activity, reducing biomass by >50 % compared to untreated controls. Further, the DPPH assay confirmed 100 % radical scavenging activity at 1000 μg/mL and an IC₅₀ value of 20.49 μg/mL. Cytotoxicity assay on A431 skin cancer cells showed time-dependent inhibition, with 85 % reduction in viability at 24 h and only 11.5 % viable cells remaining at 72 h. Additionally, the treated cotton fabric with BAFE-loaded SLN enhanced fibroblast migration and tissue regeneration, achieving 52.25 % wound closure after 48 h compared to 40.37 % in controls. These results highlighted the therapeutic potential of the treated cotton fabric with BAFE-loaded SLN as a biocompatible, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer wound dressing, suitable for advanced wound care and infection control.