Cutaneous Wound Healing Facilitated by Postbiotic Extract Through Antimicrobial Action and Extracellular Matrix Regulation

TL;DR

A postbiotic extract from Lactobacillus bulgaricus aids wound healing by fighting bacteria and supporting tissue repair.

Contribution

The study introduces a postbiotic extract with antimicrobial and extracellular matrix-regulating properties for wound healing.

Findings

The postbiotic extract showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa.

It promoted HaCaT cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro.

In vivo tests showed improved wound closure and collagen deposition in infected mouse models.

Abstract

Wound healing is a multifaceted biological process that involves a series of cellular interactions and immune responses to restore tissue integrity following injury. Postbiotics, non-viable microbial products, have garnered increasing attention for their potential therapeutic applications in wound healing. This study investigated the efficacy of a postbiotic extract derived from Lactobacillus bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) fermentation in promoting wound healing. The extract was prepared by controlled fermentation, followed by inactivation and purification. In vitro, we assessed antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and performed peptidomic analysis to identify antimicrobial peptides. Effects on HaCaT proliferation, immune modulation, and collagen synthesis were evaluated. In vivo, a full-thickness S. aureus–infected wound model in C57BL/6 mice was used to assess wound closure and collagen deposition. Together, the in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrated antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and regenerative activities, supporting composite postbiotics as a multifunctional wound-care approach.

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