PVA/Agar Based Films Reinforced With Pickering Emulsion Of Achillea Millefolium L. Essential Oil

This study developed biodegradable PVA/agar films for wound care, incorporating Achillea millefolium L. essential oil (AMO) using a β-cyclodextrin-stabilized Pickering emulsion. The PA-AMO1 film, with 1% AMO, showed optimal mechanical properties, including a tensile strength of 11.3 MPa and elongation at break of 719%. While increasing AMO content enhanced hydrophobicity and color changes, it also provided concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against E. coli, but not against S. aureus. These findings suggest that AMO-loaded PVA/agar films, particularly PA-AMO1, are promising candidates for wound dressings due to their mechanical performance and selective antibacterial properties.