Development of Pickering emulsion stabilized by Peperomia pellucida L. extract and beta-glucan: an in vitro study for wound healing applications

Abstract

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) impair wound healing by inducing oxidative stress and compromising fibroblast function. To address this, we developed a novel Pickering emulsion (PESUBG) incorporating Peperomia pellucida extract, rich in flavonoids, and beta-glucan, a bioactive polysaccharide. The formulation exhibited small droplet size, low interfacial tension, and robust stability under thermal stress, freeze-thaw cycles, and prolonged storage. Amphiphilic flavonoids contributed to interfacial stabilization and antioxidant activity, with PESUBG demonstrating the highest radical-scavenging capacity among all tested formulations. In in vitro assays, PESUBG (50 µg/mL) significantly enhanced fibroblast viability compared to the base emulsion control (100.32 ± 11.47%) and improved cell survival under H2O2-induced oxidative stress (22.00 ± 2.66% increase), while also promoting collagen synthesis. These findings suggest that PESUBG is a promising bioactive and biocompatible formulation with the potential to mitigate oxidative stress and support tissue regeneration. Further studies are warranted to optimize formulation parameters and validate its wound-healing efficacy in vivo.