Development of electrospun nanofibers with suitable properties to promote wound healing is an advantage in developing non-invasive skin treatments. We showed the potential application of Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) combined with Helichrysum italicum oil (HO) in wound healing. During this process, Tight junctions (TJs) play a crucial role in maintaining skin integrity. TJs are intercellular junctions composed of a variety of transmembrane proteins, including Occludin (OCLN), observed also in migrating epithelial cells. Changes in OCLN expression affect epidermal permeability, indicating an active role in the healing process. Within this context, we studied the OCLN expression during healing after scratch assay on Keratinocytes (HaCaT), by a confocal microscopic analysis. In addition, we evaluated the effect of treatment after scratch on cell elasticity by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis. All results show a positive trend in cell proliferation and viability on HaCaT treated with functionalized nanofibers. These results were confirmed by the expression of genes involved in the early stages of the regenerative process. Understanding the cell mechanisms involved in skin changes during repair process would allow future application of nanomaterials combined with HO in vivo.

Department of Biomedical Sciences Center for Developmental Biology and Reprogramming CEDEBIOR University of Sassari Viale San Pietro 43 B 07100 Sassari Italy

Department of Biomedical Sciences University of Sassari Viale San Pietro 43 B 07100 Sassari Italy

Department of Biophysics 2nd Faculty of Medicine Charles University 5 Uvalu 84 150 06 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Medical Sciences University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy

Department of Medicine Surgery and Pharmacy University of Sassari 07100 Sassari Italy

Institute of Materials Area Science Park 34149 Basovizza Trieste Italy

Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering Eldor Lab Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi Via Di Corticella 183 40128 Bologna Italy

R and D Laboratory Center InoCure s r o Politických Veziu 935 13 110 00 Prague Czech Republic

Student Science Národních hrdinů 279 190 12 Praha 9 Czech Republic

University Centre for Energy Efficient Buildings Czech Technical University Prague Trinecka 1024 273 43 Bustehrad Czech Republic

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