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.

• Keywords
• Bioactive molecules, Cellular mechanism, Keratinocytes, Nanofibers, Regenerative medicine, Tissue regeneration, Wound healing,
• MeSH
• HaCaT Cells MeSH
• Cell Line MeSH
• Wound Healing drug effects   MeSH
• Keratinocytes drug effects   metabolism   cytology   MeSH
• Skin * drug effects   cytology   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Communication * drug effects   MeSH
• Microscopy, Atomic Force MeSH
• Nanofibers * chemistry   MeSH
• Occludin metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Oils * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Polyvinyl Alcohol * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Povidone * chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   MeSH
• Elasticity drug effects   MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Occludin MeSH
• Plant Oils * MeSH
• Polyvinyl Alcohol * MeSH
• Povidone * MeSH