Green Extraction of Peppermint as an Antibacterial Agent in Thermosensitive Hydrogel for Diabetic Wound Healing

Diabetic wounds are notoriously problematic to heal, often leading to an increased risk of infection with conventional wound dressings. To address this problem, thermosensitive hydrogels (hydrogel TM) loaded with peppermint extracts as antibacterial agents were developed. The objective of this study was to synthesize and optimize the hydrogel TM formulation and to evaluate its efficacy in accelerating diabetic wound healing through integrative in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. The optimal hydrogel TM formulation was determined using response surface methodology (RSM) and peppermint green extraction via ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE). Characterization of hydrogel TM was performed using FTIR, TGA-DSC, and SEM, while the peppermint extract was examined by GC/MS. The synthesized hydrogel TM, with optimal formulations of 3.320 %w/v methyl cellulose and 3.671 %w/v trisodium citrate, displayed a gelation temperature of 37 °C. The loading of peppermint extract was proven through a smoother porous structure based on SEM analysis. In silico and in vitro tests demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, and in vivo studies showed complete wound closure within 9 days, proving the efficacy of the hydrogel TM@PM in accelerating diabetic wound healing.