Curcumin and its topical formulations for wound healing applications

Collagen/PCL electrospun fibers loaded with polyphenols: Curcumin and resveratrol comparison

Curcumin (Cur) and resveratrol (Rsv) have already been proposed for both anti-tumor and wound healing applications and contrasting results have been published regarding their anti- or pro-angiogenic activity; depending on the final application, an anti- or a pro-angiogenic activity is required. In the present study, a comparison of Cur and Rsv loaded electrospun fibers based on collagen and polycaprolactone (PCL) mixture was performed in order to make a contribution to understanding whether the two polyphenols have anti or pro-angiogenic activity. Despite their hydrophobic character, the two polyphenols affected morphology and wettability of the fibers, and Rsv-loaded fibers resulted larger and more quickly wettable. After hydration, collagen/PCL fibers loaded with both Cur and Rsv exhibited higher elongation and better deformation with respect to the unloaded fibers. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis showed interactions between the polyphenols and collagen. Both fiber formulations resulted biocompatible with an increase of fibroblast number during 7 days of culture; confocal microscopy analyses demonstrated that Cur released by the fibers was internalized by the cells which remained vital and adherent. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay showed that both fibers had anti-angiogenic behavior, suggesting that an anti-cancer application more than a wound healing one could be envisaged.

Review on application of herbal extracts in biomacromolecules-based nanofibers as wound dressings and skin tissue engineering

The skin, which covers an area of 2 square meters of an adult human, accounts for about 15 % of the total body weight and is the body's largest organ. It protects internal organs from external physical, chemical, and biological attacks, prevents excess water loss from the body, and plays a role in thermoregulation. The skin is constantly exposed to various damages so that wounds can be acute or chronic. Although wound healing includes hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation, and remodeling, chronic wounds face different treatment problems due to the prolonged inflammatory phase. Herbal extracts such as Nigella Sativa, curcumin, chamomile, neem, nettle, etc., with varying properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and anticancer, are used for wound healing. Due to their instability, herbal extracts are loaded in wound dressings to facilitate skin wounds. To promote skin wounds, skin tissue engineering was developed using polymers, bioactive molecules, and biomaterials in wound dressing. Conventional wound dressings, such as bandages, gauzes, and films, can't efficiently respond to wound healing. Adhesion to the wounds can worsen the wound conditions, increase inflammation, and cause pain while removing the scars. Ideal wound dressings have good biocompatibility, moisture retention, appropriate mechanical properties, and non-adherent and proper exudate management. Therefore, by electrospinning for wound healing applications, natural and synthesis polymers are utilized to fabricate nanofibers with high porosity, high surface area, and suitable mechanical and physical properties. This review explains the application of different herbal extracts with different chemical structures in nanofibrous webs used for wound care.

Computational Designed and Optimized Liposomal Curcumin-Embedded Bifunctional Cross-Linked Hydrogels for Wound Healing

Curcumin (CUR) bifunctional cross-linked nanocomposite hydrogels are presented as an efficient method for CUR delivery in wound healing. CUR-loaded liposomes (CUR-Ls) were optimized using the Box-Behnken design to augment particle size, size distribution, zeta potential, and CUR concentration. The antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of CUR-Ls were assessed. Hyaluronic acid (HA)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels were optimized with a central composite design; then, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone-co-itaconic acid) (PNVP-ITA) was synthesized to enrich the properties of the hydrogels. The drug release kinetics of the CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels were studied. Skin recovery was investigated in vivo on rat dorsal skin. The optimized CUR-Ls were constructed from 2.7% Tween® 20, 0.04% oleic acid, and 8.1% CUR, yielding nano-CUR-L with a narrow size distribution, negative surface charge, and CUR content of 19.92 ± 0.54 µg/mg. CUR-Ls improved the antioxidant effects of CUR. The optimized hydrogel contained 5% HA and 10% PVA. PNVP-ITA improved the properties of the hydrogels via enhanced cross-linking. CUR-Ls exhibited a more rapid release than CUR, whereas the hydrogels enhanced CUR release via a diffusion-controlled mechanism. CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels improved the skin recovery rate compared to the commercial patch after 5 days. Therefore, the optimized CUR-L@HA/PVA/PNVP-ITA hydrogels facilitated skin recovery and could be a promising nanocomposite for wound dressings.

Unlocking the potential of signature-based drug repurposing for anticancer drug discovery

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and is often associated with tumor relapse even after chemotherapeutics. This reveals malignancy is a complex process, and high-throughput omics strategies in recent years have contributed significantly in decoding the molecular mechanisms of these complex events in cancer. Further, the omics studies yield a large volume of cancer-specific molecular signatures that promote the discovery of cancer therapy drugs by a method termed signature-based drug repurposing. The drug repurposing method identifies new uses for approved drugs beyond their intended initial therapeutic use, and there are several approaches to it. In this review, we discuss signature-based drug repurposing in cancer, how cancer omics have revolutionized this method of drug discovery, and how one can use the cancer signature data for repurposed drug identification by providing a step-by-step procedural handout. This modern approach maximizes the use of existing therapeutic agents for cancer therapy or combination therapy to overcome chemotherapeutics resistance, making it a pragmatic and efficient alternative to traditional resource-intensive and time-consuming methods.

Novel Functional Dressing Materials for Intraoral Wound Care

Intraoral wounds represent a particularly challenging category of mucosal and hard tissue injuries, characterized by the unique structures, complex environment, and distinctive healing processes within the oral cavity. They have a common occurrence yet frequently inflict significant inconvenience and pain on patients, causing a serious decline in the quality of life. A variety of novel functional dressings specifically designed for the moist and dynamic oral environment have been developed and realized accelerated and improved wound healing. Thoroughly analyzing and summarizing these materials is of paramount importance in enhancing the understanding and proficiently managing intraoral wounds. In this review, the particular processes and unique characteristics of intraoral wound healing are firstly described. Up-to-date knowledge of various forms, properties, and applications of existing products are then intensively discussed, which are categorized into animal products, plant extracts, natural polymers, and synthetic products. To conclude, this review presents a comprehensive framework of currently available functional intraoral wound dressings, with an aim to provoke inspiration of future studies to design more convenient and versatile materials.

Greener healing: sustainable nanotechnology for advanced wound care

Wound healing involves a carefully regulated sequence of events, encompassing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory stages, tissue regeneration, and remodeling. However, in individuals with diabetes, this process gets disrupted due to dysregulation caused by elevated glucose levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream. Consequently, the pro-inflammatory stage is prolonged, while the anti-inflammatory phase is delayed, leading to impaired tissue regeneration and remodeling with extended healing time. Furthermore, the increased glucose levels in open wounds create an environment conducive to microbial growth and tissue sepsis, which can escalate to the point of limb amputation. Managing diabetic wounds requires meticulous care and monitoring due to the lack of widely available preventative and therapeutic measures. Existing clinical interventions have limitations, such as slow recovery rates, high costs, and inefficient drug delivery methods. Therefore, exploring alternative avenues to develop effective wound-healing treatments is essential. Nature offers a vast array of resources in the form of secondary metabolites, notably polyphenols, known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, glucose-regulating, and cell growth-promoting properties. Additionally, nanoparticles synthesized through environmentally friendly methods hold promise for wound healing applications in diabetic and non-diabetic conditions. This review provides a comprehensive discussion and summary of the potential wound-healing abilities of specific natural polyphenols and their nanoparticles. It explores the mechanisms of action underlying their efficacy and presents effective formulations for promoting wound-healing activity.

Design Strategy of Microneedle Systems for Skin Wound Healing: Based on the Structure of Tips and Therapeutic Methodologies

The skin, being the largest organ of the human body, is susceptible to damage resulting in wounds that are vulnerable to pathogenic attacks and fail to provide effective protection for internal tissues. Therefore, it is crucial to expedite wound healing. In recent years, microneedles have garnered significant attention as an innovative drug delivery system owing to their noninvasive and painless administration, simplified application process, precise control over drug release, and versatile loading capabilities. Consequently, they hold immense potential for the treatment of skin wound. This review presents a comprehensive design strategy for the microneedle system in promoting skin wound healing. First, the process of skin wound healing and the characteristics of specific wounds are elucidated. The design strategies for microneedles are subsequently presented and classified based on their structural and therapeutic methodologies. Finally, a succinct recapitulation of the previously discussed points and a prospective analysis are provided.

Engineered Robust Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Drug-Eluting, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Capacity

Multifunctional nanofibrous architectures have attracted extensive attention for biomedical applications due to their adjustable and versatile properties. Electrospun fabrics stand out as key building blocks for these structures, yet improving their mechanobiological and physicochemical performance is a challenge. Here, we introduce biodegradable engineered hydrophobic/hydrophilic scaffolds consisting of electrospun polylactide nanofibers coated with drug-eluting synthetic (poly(vinyl alcohol)) and natural (starch) polymers. The microstructure of these composite scaffolds was tailored for an increased hydrophilicity, optimized permeability, water retention capacity of up to 5.1 g/g, and enhanced mechanical properties under both dry and wet conditions. Regarding the latter, normalized tensile strengths of up to 32.4 MPa were achieved thanks to the improved fiber interactions and fiber-coating stress transfer. Curcumin was employed as a model drug, and its sustained release in a pure aqueous medium was investigated for 35 days. An in-depth study of the release kinetics revealed the outstanding water solubility and bioavailability of curcumin, owing to its complexation with the hydrophilic polymers and further delineated the role of the hydrophobic nanofibrous network in regulating its release rate. The modified curcumin endowed the composites with antioxidant activities up to 5.7 times higher than that of free curcumin as well as promising anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic activities. The cytocompatibility and cell proliferation capability on human dermal fibroblasts also evidenced the safe use of the constructs. Finally, the fabrics present pH-responsive color-changing behavior easily distinguishable within the pH range of 5-9. Thus, these designs offer a facile and cost-effective roadmap for the fabrication of smart multifunctional biomaterials, especially for chronic wound healing.

Wharton's jelly stem cells delivered via a curcumin-loaded nanofibrous wound dressings improved diabetic wound healing via upregulating VEGF and IGF genes: An in vitro and in vivo study

Diabetic wounds pose an enduring clinical hurdle, marked by delayed recovery, persistent inflammation, and an elevated susceptibility to infections. Conventional treatment approaches often fall short of delivering optimal outcomes, prompting the exploration of innovative methods to enhance the healing process. Electrospun wound dressings offer superior healing, controlled drug release, enhanced cell proliferation, biocompatibility, high surface area, and antimicrobial properties. In the current study, polycaprolactone/gelatin-based nanofibrous wound dressings were developed for the delivery of Wharton's jelly stem cells and curcumin into the diabetic wounds bed. Curcumin was loaded into the polycaprolactone/gelatin solution and electrospun to produce curcumin-loaded scaffolds. In vitro experiments including scanning electron microscopy, cell viability assay, release assay, hemocompatibility assay, cell proliferation assay, and antibacterial assay were utilized to characterize the delivery system. Then, curcumin-loaded scaffolds were seeded with 30,000 Wharton's jelly stem cells and implanted into a rat model of diabetic wounds. Study showed that the scaffolds containing both Wharton's jelly stem cells and curcumin significantly improved diabetic wound closure (86.32 3.88% at the end of 14th day), augmented collagen deposition, and improved epithelial tissue formation. Gene expression studies showed that VEGF and IGF genes were significantly upregulated by the co-delivery system. Our developed system may have augmented diabetic wound healing via upregulating pro-healing genes.

Multicomponent Synergistic Antibacterial Hydrogel Based on Gelatin-Oxidized Carboxymethyl Cellulose for Wound Healing of Drug-Resistant Chronic Infection

Bacterial invasion hinders the healing process of wound, leading to the formation of chronic infected wound; meanwhile, the misuse of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of numerous drug-resistant bacteria. The application of conventional antimicrobial methods and wound treatment techniques is not appropriate for wound dressings. In this paper, quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol) (QPVA) and pomegranate-like copper uniformly doped polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA@Cu) were introduced into a gelatin-oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose system to form a multicomponent synergistic antibacterial hydrogel (GOQ3P3). Polydopamine improves the biocompatibility and prevents the detachment of Cu nanoparticles. It can achieve synergistic antibacterial effects through quaternary ammonium salt-inorganic nanoparticle photothermal treatment under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. It exhibits highly efficient and rapid bactericidal properties against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) with an antibacterial rate close to 100%. The gel scaffold composed of macromolecules gives the hydrogel excellent mechanical properties, adhesive capabilities, self-healing characteristics, biocompatibility, and pH degradation and promotes cell adhesion and migration. In a full-thickness wound healing model infected with MRSA, GOQ3P3 controls inflammatory responses, accelerates collagen deposition, promotes angiogenesis, and enhances wound closure in the wound healing cascade reaction. This study provides a feasible strategy for constructing dressings targeting chronic infection wounds caused by drug-resistant bacteria.

Exploring the mechanism of Huanglian ointment in alleviating wound healing after anal fistula surgery through metabolomics and proteomics

Anal fistula is a common anal and intestinal disease. The wound of anal fistula surgery is open and polluting, which is the most difficult to heal among all surgical incisions. To investigate the mechanism of Huanglian ointment (HLO) on wound healing after anal fistula incision. The S. aureus infected wound in SD rats were used to imitate poor healing wound after anal fistula surgery. SD rats with wound sites (n = 24) were randomly divided into four groups (Control group, Model group, Potassium permanganate (PP) treatment group, and HLO treatment group). The wound healing rate was evaluated, HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes of each group, ELISA was used to detect the secretion of inflammatory factors in each group, and the mechanism was explored through metabolomics and proteomics in plasma rat. Compared to other groups, the rate of wound healing in the HLO group was higher on days 7 and 14. Histological analysis showed that collagen and fibroblast in HLO rats were significantly increased, inflammatory cells were reduced, and vascular endothelial permeability was increased. ELISA results showed that the secretion of inflammatory factors in HLO rats was significantly lower. Significant proteins and metabolites were identified in the wound tissues of the infected rats and HLO-treated rats, which were mainly attributed to Cdc42, Ctnnb1, Actr2, Actr3, Arpc1b, Itgam, Itgb2, Cttn, Linoleic acid metabolism, d-Glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, Phenylalanine metabolism, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism, and Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. In conclusion, this study showed that HLO can promote S. aureus infected wound healing, and the data provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of wounds after anal fistula surgery with HLO.

Unraveling the protective effects of curcumin against drugs of abuse

Curcumin, a natural compound derived from the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), has garnered significant attention for its diverse neuroprotective properties. Curcumin has been widely recognized for its remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects, which have shown great potential in the treatment of various disorders, encompassing psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we delve into the protective effects of curcumin against drugs of abuse, including morphine, methamphetamine, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol, with a particular focus on the underlying mechanisms from a neuroscience perspective. Overall, curcumin demonstrates promising effects against the neurotoxicity induced by abused drugs through a wide range of mechanisms. These include the modulation of inflammatory cytokines, maintenance of ion homeostasis, epigenetic regulation, enhancement of antioxidant capacity, as well as the activation of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathways. These findings suggest that curcumin emerges as a promising therapeutic agent in combatting the detrimental effects induced by drugs of abuse, and further research is warranted to fully comprehend the molecular pathways and optimize its utilization for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse-related neurotoxicity.

Multifunctional antibacterial hydrogels for chronic wound management

Chronic wounds have gradually evolved into a global health challenge, comprising long-term non-healing wounds, local tissue necrosis, and even amputation in severe cases. Accordingly, chronic wounds place a considerable psychological and economic burden on patients and society. Chronic wounds have multifaceted pathogenesis involving excessive inflammation, insufficient angiogenesis, and elevated reactive oxygen species levels, with bacterial infection playing a crucial role. Hydrogels, renowned for their excellent biocompatibility, moisture retention, swelling properties, and oxygen permeability, have emerged as promising wound repair dressings. However, hydrogels with singular functions fall short of addressing the complex requirements associated with chronic wound healing. Hence, current research emphasises the development of multifunctional antibacterial hydrogels. This article reviews chronic wound characteristics and the properties and classification of antibacterial hydrogels, as well as their potential application in chronic wound management.

Efficacy of topical curcumin on mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Recently, there has been a renewed interest in traditional medicine for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Curcumin has been reported as an agent with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and neuroprotective attributes. This study is one of the first investigations to assess the effect of curcumin gel on CTS.

METHODS

This study is a prospective, 8-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. A total of 70 patients with CTS were analyzed. The intervention group (n = 35) received a topical curcumin gel and a night wrist splint and the control group (n = 35) received a placebo gel and a night wrist splint for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the assessment of the symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS) of the participants using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) after 8 weeks. In addition, all participants were evaluated by electrodiagnostic (EDX) test at baseline and after 8 weeks.

RESULTS

The mean scores of SSS demonstrated a significant decrease in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group; P-value= 0.021. The mean change score of SSS after the intervention was 12.45 ± 8.18 in curcumin and 3.28 ± 7.06 in the placebo group; P-value = 0.0001 and the mean change score of FSS were 6.24 ± 4.91 and 2.31 ± 4.95 in curcumin and placebo groups, respectively; P-value = 0.002. However, the EDX study showed no significant changes in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that curcumin gel could be effective in the improvement of the symptom severity and daily activity of patients with CTS.

Electrospun nanofibers synthesized from polymers incorporated with bioactive compounds for wound healing

The development of innovative wound dressing materials is crucial for effective wound care. It's an active area of research driven by a better understanding of chronic wound pathogenesis. Addressing wound care properly is a clinical challenge, but there is a growing demand for advancements in this field. The synergy of medicinal plants and nanotechnology offers a promising approach to expedite the healing process for both acute and chronic wounds by facilitating the appropriate progression through various healing phases. Metal nanoparticles play an increasingly pivotal role in promoting efficient wound healing and preventing secondary bacterial infections. Their small size and high surface area facilitate enhanced biological interaction and penetration at the wound site. Specifically designed for topical drug delivery, these nanoparticles enable the sustained release of therapeutic molecules, such as growth factors and antibiotics. This targeted approach ensures optimal cell-to-cell interactions, proliferation, and vascularization, fostering effective and controlled wound healing. Nanoscale scaffolds have significant attention due to their attractive properties, including delivery capacity, high porosity and high surface area. They mimic the Extracellular matrix (ECM) and hence biocompatible. In response to the alarming rise of antibiotic-resistant, biohybrid nanofibrous wound dressings are gradually replacing conventional antibiotic delivery systems. This emerging class of wound dressings comprises biopolymeric nanofibers with inherent antibacterial properties, nature-derived compounds, and biofunctional agents. Nanotechnology, diminutive nanomaterials, nanoscaffolds, nanofibers, and biomaterials are harnessed for targeted drug delivery aimed at wound healing. This review article discusses the effects of nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with nanoparticles on wound healing, including biological (in vivo and in vitro) and mechanical outcomes.

Effects of curcumin supplementation on abdominal surgical wound healing

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of curcumin supplementation on abdominal surgical wound healing in rats using clinical, histological, and hematological parameters.

METHODS

Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: the curcumin group, and the control group. The curcumin group received, in addition to water and standard feed, curcumin via gavage at the dose of 200 mg/kg for seven days preceding and seven days following surgery. The control group received only water and standard feed. Both groups underwent median laparotomy and left colotomy. On the eighth postoperative day, the groups were euthanized, and the left colon was resected for histological analysis.

RESULTS

In the preoperative evaluation, there was a significant decrease in the mean C-reactive protein levels in the curcumin group (0.06) compared to the control group (0.112) (p = 0.0001). In the postoperative wound healing assessment, a significant decrease was observed in inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.0006) and blood vessel count (p = 0.0002) in the curcumin group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin supplementation was able to significantly reduce inflammatory parameters in both pre-and post-operative phases of abdominal surgical wounds in rats.

Advancements in wound healing: integrating biomolecules, drug delivery carriers, and targeted therapeutics for enhanced tissue repair

Wound healing, a critical biological process vital for tissue restoration, has spurred a global market exceeding $15 billion for wound care products and $12 billion for scar treatment. Chronic wounds lead to delayed or impaired wound healing. Natural bioactive compounds, prized for minimal side effects, stand out as promising candidates for effective wound healing. In response, researchers are turning to nanotechnology, employing the encapsulation of these agents into drug delivery carriers. Drug delivery system will play a crucial role in enabling targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to promote tissue regeneration and address underlying issues such as inflammation, infection, and impaired angiogenesis in chronic wound healing. Drug delivery carriers offer distinct advantages, exhibiting a substantial ratio of surface area to volume and altered physical and chemical properties. These carriers facilitate sustained and controlled release, proving particularly advantageous for the extended process of wound healing, that typically comprise a diverse range of components, integrating both natural and synthetic polymers. Additionally, they often incorporate bioactive molecules. Despite their properties, including poor solubility, rapid degradation, and limited bioavailability, various natural bioactive agents face challenges in clinical applications. With a global research, emphasis on harnessing nanomaterial for wound healing application, this research overview engages advancing drug delivery technologies to augment the effectiveness of tissue regeneration using bioactive molecules. Recent progress in drug delivery has poised to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of natural compounds in wound healing applications.

Assessing the efficacy of curcumin-loaded alginate hydrogel on skin wound healing: A gene expression analysis

Skin tissue engineering has gained significant attention as a promising alternative to traditional treatments for skin injuries. In this study, we developed 3D hydrogel-based scaffolds, Alginate, incorporating different concentrations of Curcumin and evaluated their properties, including morphology, swelling behavior, weight loss, as well as hemo- and cytocompatibility. Furthermore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Alginate hydrogel containing different amounts of Curcumin using an in vitro wound healing model. The prepared hydrogels exhibited remarkable characteristics, SEM showed that the pore size of hydrogels was 134.64 μm with interconnected pores, making it conducive for cellular infiltration and nutrient exchange. Moreover, hydrogels demonstrated excellent biodegradability, losing 63.5% of its weight over 14 days. In addition, the prepared hydrogels had a stable release of curcumin for 3 days. The results also show the hemocompatibility of prepared hydrogels and a low amount of blood clotting. To assess the efficacy of the developed hydrogels, 3T3 fibroblast growth was examined during various incubation times. The results indicated that the inclusion of Curcumin at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL positively influenced cellular behavior. The animal study showed that Alginate hydrogel containing 0.1 mg/mL curcumin had high wound closure(more than 80%) after 14 days. In addition, it showed up-regulation of essential wound healing genes, including TGFβ1 and VEGF, promoting tissue repair and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the treated group exhibited down-regulation of MMP9 gene expression, indicating a reduction in matrix degradation and inflammation. The observed cellular responses and gene expression changes substantiate the therapeutic efficacy of prepared hydrogels. Consequently, our study showed the healing effect of alginate-based hydrogel containing Curcumin on skin injuries.

Technological Interventions Enhancing Curcumin Bioavailability in Wound-Healing Therapeutics

Wound healing has been a challenge in the medical field. Tremendous research has been carried out to expedite wound healing by fabricating various formulations, some of which are now commercially available. However, owing to their natural source, people have been attracted to advanced formulations with herbal components. Among various herbs, curcumin has been the center of attraction from ancient times for its healing properties due to its multiple therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective, and radioprotective properties. However, curcumin has a low water solubility and rapidly degrades into inactive metabolites, which limits its therapeutic efficacy. Henceforth, a carrier system is needed to carry curcumin, guard it against degradation, and keep its bioavailability and effectiveness. Different formulations with curcumin have been synthesized, and exist in the form of various synthetic and natural materials, including nanoparticles, hydrogels, scaffolds, films, fibers, and nanoemulgels, improving its bioavailability dramatically. This review discusses the advances in different types of curcumin-based formulations used in wound healing in recent times, concentrating on its mechanisms of action and discussing the updates on its application at several stages of the wound healing process. Impact statement Curcumin is a herbal compound extracted from turmeric root and has been used since time immemorial for its health benefits including wound healing. In clinical formulations, curcumin shows low bioavailability, which mainly stems from the way it is delivered in the body. Henceforth, a carrier system is needed to carry curcumin, guard it against degradation, while maintaining its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. This review offers an overview of the advanced technological interventions through tissue engineering approaches to efficiently utilize curcumin in different types of wound healing applications.

Generation of a photothermally responsive antimicrobial, bioadhesive gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) based hydrogel through 3D printing for infectious wound healing

Recently, photothermal nanomaterials has attracted enormous interests owing to their enhanced therapeutic effects and less adverse effects in the treatment of infectious diseases. Herein, this work presents a photothermally responsive antimicrobial, bioadhesive hydrogel through three dimensions (3D) printing technology for treatment the wound infection. The hydrogel is based on a visible-light-activated naturally derived polymer (GelMA), GelMA grafted with dopamine (GelMA-DA) and the polydopamine coated reduced graphene oxide (rGO@PDA), which can provide the multifunctional such as photothermal antibacterial, antioxidant, conductivity, adhesion and hemostasis performance to accelerate wound healing. The developed hydrogel shown the excellent adhesion capability to adhere the in vitro physiological tissues and glass surface. Moreover, the fabricated hydrogel also exhibited excellent cytocompatibility to L929 cells which is a vital biofunction for efficiently promoting cell proliferation and migration in vitro. The hydrogel also showed remarkable photothermally responsive antimicrobial capability against two strains (99.3 % antibacterial ratio for E. coli and 98.6 % antibacterial ratio for S. aureus). Furthermore, it could support the wound repair and regeneration of S. aureus infected full-thickness wound defects in rats. Overall, the 3D printed hydrogel could be used as a photothermal platform for the development of more effective therapies against the infected wound.

A Curcumin-Decorated Nanozyme with ROS Scavenging and Anti-Inflammatory Properties for Neuroprotection

Disordered reactive oxygen/nitrogen species are a common occurrence in various diseases, which usually cause cellular oxidative damage and inflammation. Despite the wide range of applications for biomimetic nanoparticles with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, designs that seamlessly integrate these two abilities with a synergistic effect in a simple manner are seldom reported. In this study, we developed a novel PEI-Mn composite nanoparticle (PM NP) using a chelation method, and the curcumin was loaded onto PM NPs via metal-phenol coordination to form PEI-Mn@curcumin nanoparticles (PMC NPs). PMC NPs possessed excellent dispersibility and cytocompatibility, was engineered to serve as an effective nanozyme, and exhibited specific SOD-like and CAT-like activities. In addition, the incorporation of curcumin granted PMC NPs the ability to effectively suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines in microglia induced by LPS. As curcumin also has antioxidant properties, it further amplified the synergistic efficiency of ROS scavenging. Significantly, PMC NPs effectively scavenged ROS triggered by H2O2 in SIM-A9 microglia cells and Neuro-2a cells. PMC NPs also considerably mitigated DNA and lipid oxidation in Neuro-2a cells and demonstrated an increase in cell viability under various H2O2 concentrations. These properties suggest that PMC NPs have significant potential in addressing excessive ROS and inflammation related to neural diseases.

Poly (vinyl alcohol)-gelatin-sericin copolymerized film fortified with vesicle-entrapped demethoxycurcumin/bisdemethoxycurcumin for improved stability, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and skin tissue regeneration

Vesicle delivery carriers, used to stabilize hydrophobic drugs, are characterized by the propensity to aggregate, and fuse, limiting its applications. Fortifying vesicle-entrapped drugs within a biodegradable polymeric film constitutes a promising solution. In this study, biodegradable poly (vinyl alcohol) copolymerized with gelatin-sericin film and integrated alongside vesicle-entrapped demethoxycurcumin (DMC) or bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) was developed, extensively characterized for improve efficacy, and compared. Vesicle-entrapped DMC or BDMC was spherical in shape with no changes in size, zeta-potential, and morphology after storing at 4 °C for 30 days. Antibacterial activity of vesicle-entrapped DMC formulations against Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus epidermidis was more effective than that of its free form. DMC and BDMC demonstrated dose dependent reduction in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) levels either in free or in entrapped form. Moreover, vesicle-entrapped DMC/BDMC suppressed NO production at lower concentrations, compared with that of their free form and significantly improved the viability of RAW264.7 and HaCaT cells. Furthermore, functionalized film with vesicle-entrapped DMC/BDMC demonstrated excellent radical scavenging, biocompatibility, and cell migration efficacy. Thus, incorporating vesicle, entrapped DMC/BDMC within biodegradable polymeric film may comprised a promising strategy for improving stability, wound healing, and inflammation attenuation efficacy.

In silico screening of phytoconstituents as potential anti-inflammatory agents targeting NF-κB p65: an approach to promote burn wound healing

Chronic burn wounds are frequently characterised by a prolonged and dysregulated inflammatory phase that is mediated by over-activation of NF-κB p65. Synthetic wound healing drugs used for treatment of inflammation are primarily associated with several shortcomings which reduce their therapeutic index. In this scenario, phytoconstituents that exhibit multifaceted biological activities including anti-inflammatory effects have emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative. However, identification and isolation of phytoconstituents from medicinal herbs is a cumbersome method that is linked to profound uncertainty. Hence, present study aimed to identify prospective phytoconstituents as inhibitors of RHD of NF-κB p65 by utilizing in silico approach. Virtual screening of 2821 phytoconstituents was performed against protein model. Out of 2821 phytoconstituents, 162 phytoconstituents displayed a higher binding affinity (≤ -8.0 kcal/mol). These 162 phytoconstituents were subjected to ADMET predictions, and 15 of them were found to satisfy Lipinski's rule of five and showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Among these 15 phytoconstituents, 5 phytoconstituents with high docking scores i.e. silibinin, bismurrayaquinone A, withafastuosin B, yuccagenin, (+)-catechin 3-gallate were selected for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. Results of MD simulation indicated that withafastuosin B, (+)-catechin 3-gallate and yuccagenin produced a compact and stable complex with protein without significant variations in conformation. Relative binding energy analysis of best hit molecules indicate that withafastuosin B, and (+)-catechin 3-gallate exhibit high binding affinity with target protein among other lead molecules. Findings of study suggest that these phytoconstituents could serve as promising anti-inflammatory agents for treatment of burn wounds by inhibiting the RHD of NF-κB p65.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Facile preparation of self-healing hydrogels based on chitosan and PVA with the incorporation of curcumin-loaded micelles for wound dressings

The increased demand for improved strategies for wound healing has, in recent years, motivated the development of multifunctional hydrogels with favorable bio-compatibility and antibacterial properties. To this regard, the current study presented the design of a novel self-healing composite hydrogel that could perform as wound dressing for the promotion of wound healing. The composite hydrogels were composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), borax and chitosan functionalized with sialic acid (SA-CS) and curcumin loaded pluronic F127 micelles. The hydrogels were formed through the boronic ester bond formation between PVA, SA-CS and borax under physiological conditions and demonstrated adjustable mechanical properties, gelation kinetics and antibacterial properties. When incubating with NIH3T3 cells, the hydrogels also demonstrated good biocompatibility. These aspects offer a promising foundation for their prospective applications in developing clinical materials for wound healing.

Transparent silk fibroin film-facilitated infected-wound healing through antibacterial, improved fibroblast adhesion and immune modulation

The clinical application of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) films for wound treatment is restricted by its undesirable mechanical properties and lack of antibacterial activity. Herein, different pluronic polymers were introduced to optimize their mechanical properties and the RSF film with 2.5% pluronic F127 (RSFPF127) stood out to address the above issues owing to its satisfactory mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and transmittance. Diverse antibacterial agents (curcumin, Ag nanoparticles, and antimicrobial peptide KR-12) were separately encapsulated in RSFPF127 to endow it with antibacterial activity. In vitro experiments revealed that the medicated RSFPF127 could persistently release drugs and had desirable bioactivities toward killing bacteria, promoting fibroblast adhesion, and modulating macrophage polarization. In vivo experiments revealed that medicated RSFPF127 not only eradicated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the wound area and inhibited inflammatory responses, but also facilitated angiogenesis and re-epithelialization, regardless of the types of antibacterial agents, thus accelerating the recovery of infected wounds. These results demonstrate that RSFPF127 is an ideal matrix platform to load different types of drugs for application as wound dressings.

Microcurrent Cloth-Assisted Transdermal Penetration and Follicular Ducts Escape of Curcumin-Loaded Micelles for Enhanced Wound Healing

Purpose

Larger nanoparticles of bioactive compounds deposit high concentrations in follicular ducts after skin penetration. In this study, we investigated the effects of microcurrent cloth on the skin penetration and translocation of large nanoparticle applied for wound repair applications.

Methods

A self-assembly of curcumin-loaded micelles (CMs) was prepared to improve the water solubility and transdermal efficiency of curcumin. Microcurrent cloth (M) was produced by Zn/Ag electrofabric printing to facilitate iontophoretic transdermal delivery. The transdermal performance of CMs combined with M was evaluated by a transdermal system and confocal microscopy. The CMs/iontophoretic combination effects on nitric oxide (NO) production and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated in Raw 264.7 cells. The wound-healing property of the combined treatment was assessed in a surgically created full-thickness circular wound mouse model.

Results

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Zn/Ag on the microcurrent cloth. The average potential of M was measured to be +214.6 mV in PBS. Large particle CMs (CM-L) prepared using surfactant/cosurfactant present a particle size of 142.9 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.319. The solubility of curcumin in CM-L was 2143.67 μg/mL, indicating 250-fold higher than native curcumin (8.68 μg/mL). The combined treatment (CM-L+M) demonstrated a significant ability to inhibit NO production and increase IL-6 and IL-10 secretion. Surprisingly, microcurrent application significantly improved 20.01-fold transdermal performance of curcumin in CM-L with an obvious escape of CM-L from follicular ducts to surrounding observed by confocal microscopy. The CM-L+M group also exhibited a better wound-closure rate (77.94% on day 4) and the regenerated collagen intensity was approximately 2.66-fold higher than the control group, with a closure rate greater than 90% on day 8 in vivo.

Conclusion

Microcurrent cloth play as a promising iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery accelerator that enhances skin penetration and assists CMs to escape from follicular ducts for wound repair applications.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and injectable hydrogels constructed using CuS and curcumin co-loaded micelles for NIR-enhanced infected wound healing

Constructing antibacterial and antioxidant hydrogels is critical for treating infected full-thickness skin wounds. Herein, we report a co-encapsulation strategy to load CuS nanoparticles and hydrophobic antioxidant curcumin (cur) in aldehyde-terminated F127 micelles, which are then cross-linked with carboxymethyl chitosan through a Schiff base reaction to form a functional composite hydrogel (CF-CuS-cur). Apart from its suitable swelling and degradation behavior, good biocompatibility, and injectability for treating irregular wounds, the CF-CuS-cur hydrogel displayed excellent photothermal antibacterial ability under 1064 nm NIR laser irradiation, and antioxidant activity to protect cells from excessive oxidative stress. Using a full-thickness infected wound model, we demonstrated that the CF-CuS-cur hydrogel accelerated the wound healing process by effective sterilization and decreased inflammation, under synergistic action from CuS, curcumin and NIR irradiation. Histological and immunohistochemistry analysis further revealed the promoted skin attachments and regeneration, collagen deposition, neovascularization, and early transition to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, when the wounds were treated with the CF-CuS-cur hydrogel. This work demonstrates a facile strategy to construct functional hydrogels with NIR-enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which can be potentially applied as wound dressings for treating chronic wounds.

Chitosan tamarind-based nanoparticles as a promising approach for topical application of curcumin intended for burn healing: in vitro and in vivo study

One of the most prevalent worldwide problems that affect all ages and genders is skin burn. The goal of our study was to assess the ability of curcumin nanoparticles to cure a rat burn model. Three formulations were selected after several tests were performed including investigation of encapsulation efficiency, particle size and zeta potential measurements. In vitro release was achieved on the three selected formulations. The effectiveness of the chosen formulation for healing was evaluated. The induced burn wound was smeared, starting just after excision, once daily with curcumin nanoparticles for 18 days. Our findings revealed that curcumin nanoparticles improved the burn healing potential by augmenting the skin regeneration indices as evidenced by enhancing the new production of hyaluronic acid and collagen type I. Additionally, curcumin nanoparticles could increase levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and alpha smooth muscle activity while drastically reducing the skin's tumour necrosis factor content, revealing a significant potential for burn healing process that is also reflected in the histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. Finally, our results demonstrated that curcumin nanoparticles revealed a significant potential for burn healing than curcumin alone due to its potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Encapsulating Antibiotic and Protein-Stabilized Nanosilver into Sandwich-Structured Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds for MRSA-Infected Wound Treatment

With the increasing prevalence of microbial infections, which results in prolonged inflammation and delayed wound healing, the development of effective and safe antimicrobial wound dressings of multiple properties remains challenging for public health. Despite their various formats, the available developed dressings with limited functions may not fulfill the diverse demands involved in the complex wound healing process. In this study, multifunctional sandwich-structured electrospinning nanofiber membranes (ENMs) were fabricated. According to the structural composition, the obtained ENMs included a hydrophilic inner layer loaded with curcumin and gentamicin sulfate, an antibacterial middle layer consisting of bovine serum albumin stabilized silver oxide nanoparticles, and a hydrophobic outer layer. The prepared sandwich-structured ENMs (SNM) exhibited good biocompatibility and killing efficacy on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). In particular, transcriptomic analysis revealed that SNM inactivated MRSA by inhibiting its carbohydrate and energy metabolism and reduced the bacterial resistance by downregulating mecA. In the animal experiment, SNM showed improved wound healing efficiency by reducing the bacterial load and inflammation. Moreover, 16S rDNA sequencing results indicated that SNM treatment may accelerate wound healing without observed influence on the normal skin flora. Therefore, the constructed sandwich-structured ENMs exhibited promising potential as dressings to deal with the infected wound management.

Three-Dimensional Printed Cellulose for Wound Dressing Applications

Wounds are skin tissue damage due to trauma. Many factors inhibit the wound healing phase (hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and alteration), such as oxygenation, contamination/infection, age, effects of injury, sex hormones, stress, diabetes, obesity, drugs, alcoholism, smoking, nutrition, hemostasis, debridement, and closing time. Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer in nature which is promising as the main matrix of wound dressings because of its good structure and mechanical stability, moisturizes the area around the wound, absorbs excess exudate, can form elastic gels with the characteristics of bio-responsiveness, biocompatibility, low toxicity, biodegradability, and structural similarity with the extracellular matrix (ECM). The addition of active ingredients as a model drug helps accelerate wound healing through antimicrobial and antioxidant mechanisms. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology can print cellulose as a bioink to produce wound dressings with complex structures mimicking ECM. The 3D printed cellulose-based wound dressings are a promising application in modern wound care. This article reviews the use of 3D printed cellulose as an ideal wound dressing and their properties, including mechanical properties, permeability aspect, absorption ability, ability to retain and provide moisture, biodegradation, antimicrobial property, and biocompatibility. The applications of 3D printed cellulose in the management of chronic wounds, burns, and painful wounds are also discussed.

Curcumin promotes skin wound healing by activating Nrf2 signaling pathways and inducing apoptosis in mice

Background/aim

Curcumin may have potential as a therapy for wound healing, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. It is not known whether curcumin can promote wound healing by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and inducing apoptosis. This study determined the role of Nrf2 signaling pathway and apoptosis in curcumin-promoting skin wound healing.

Materials and methods

The full-thickness skin defect model of mice was made and randomly divided into a control group and a curcumin group. The mice in the curcumin group and in the control group received respectively a daily topical treatment of Vaseline cream with or without 5 mg curcumin. The wound healing of mice was observed daily. The mice in two groups were killed respectively on postinjury days 3, 7, and 14, and the wound tissues were collected, with 5 mice in each group. Pathological change and formation of collagen fibers were observed by HE and Masson staining respectively. The expression of caspase-3 was observed by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, and ELISA assay and colorimetry assay were used to check the contents of ROS, MDA, SOD, and GSH.

Results

The wound healing rates of curcumin group were higher than those of control group (p < 0.05), and the pathological changes were also significantly better than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Collagen fiber synthesis in curcumin group was higher than that in control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 in curcumin group was higher than that in control group on 7th day post wound (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of ROS and MDA in curcumin were lower than those in control group (p < 0.05), and the level of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD and GSH were higher than those in control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Curcumin improves skin wound healing by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and inducing apoptosis in mice.

Exploring the recent developments of alginate silk fibroin material for hydrogel wound dressing: A review

Hydrogels, a type of polymeric material capable of retaining water within a three-dimensional network, have demonstrated their potential in wound healing, surpassing traditional wound dressings. These hydrogels possess remarkable mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, making them suitable scaffolds for tissue regeneration. This article aims to emphasize the advantages of alginate, silk fibroin, and hydrogel-based wound dressings, specifically highlighting their crucial functions that accelerate the healing process of skin wounds. Noteworthy functions include self-healing ability, water solubility, anti-inflammatory properties, adhesion, antimicrobial properties, drug delivery, conductivity, and responsiveness to stimuli. Moreover, recent advancements in hydrogel technology have resulted in the development of wound dressings with enhanced features for monitoring wound progression, further augmenting their effectiveness. This review emphasizes the utilization of hydrogel membranes for treating excisional and incisional wounds, while exploring recent breakthroughs in hydrogel wound dressings, including nanoparticle composite hydrogels, stem cell hydrogel composites, and curcumin-hydrogel composites. Additionally, the review focuses on diverse synthesis procedures, designs, and potential applications of hydrogels in wound healing dressings.

Applications of drug delivery systems, organic, and inorganic nanomaterials in wound healing

The skin is known to be the largest organ in the human body, while also being exposed to environmental elements. This indicates that skin is highly susceptible to physical infliction, as well as damage resulting from medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The wound management costs in hospitals and clinics are expected to rise globally over the coming years, which provides pressure for more wound healing aids readily available in the market. Recently, nanomaterials have been gaining traction for their potential applications in various fields, including wound healing. Here, we discuss various inorganic nanoparticles such as silver, titanium dioxide, copper oxide, cerium oxide, MXenes, PLGA, PEG, and silica nanoparticles with their respective roles in improving wound healing progression. In addition, organic nanomaterials for wound healing such as collagen, chitosan, curcumin, dendrimers, graphene and its derivative graphene oxide were also further discussed. Various forms of nanoparticle drug delivery systems like nanohydrogels, nanoliposomes, nanofilms, and nanoemulsions were discussed in their function to deliver therapeutic agents to wound sites in a controlled manner.

Emergence of Nano-Based Formulations for Effective Delivery of Flavonoids against Topical Infectious Disorders

Flavonoids are hydroxylated phenolic substances in vegetables, fruits, flowers, seeds, wine, tea, nuts, propolis, and honey. They belong to a versatile category of natural polyphenolic compounds. Their biological function depends on various factors such as their chemical structure, degree of hydroxylation, degree of polymerization conjugation, and substitutions. Flavonoids have gained considerable attention among researchers, as they show a wide range of pharmacological activities, including coronary heart disease prevention, antioxidative, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, free-radical scavenging, anticancer, and anti-atherosclerotic activities. Plants synthesize flavonoid compounds in response to pathogen attacks, and these compounds exhibit potent antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. However, certain antibacterial flavonoids have the ability to selectively target the cell wall of bacteria and inhibit virulence factors, including biofilm formation. Moreover, some flavonoids are known to reverse antibiotic resistance and enhance the efficacy of existing antibiotic drugs. However, due to their poor solubility in water, flavonoids have limited oral bioavailability. They are quickly metabolized in the gastrointestinal region, which limits their ability to prevent and treat various disorders. The integration of flavonoids into nanomedicine constitutes a viable strategy for achieving efficient cutaneous delivery owing to their favorable encapsulation capacity and diminished toxicity. The utilization of nanoparticles or nanoformulations facilitates drug delivery by targeting the drug to the specific site of action and exhibits excellent physicochemical stability.

In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of Topical Dosage Forms Containing Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System Loaded with Curcumin

The external use of curcumin is rare, although it can be a valuable active ingredient in the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases. The aim of our experimental work was to formulate topical dosage forms containing curcumin for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Curcumin has extremely poor solubility and bioavailability, so we have tried to increase it with the usage of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems. Creams and gels were formulated using penetration-enhancing surfactants and gelling agents. The release of the drug from the vehicle and its penetration through the membrane were determined using a Franz diffusion cell. An MTT cytotoxicity and in vitro antioxidant assays were performed on HaCaT cell line. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of the preparations was tested by measuring rat paw edema. In addition, we examined the degree of inflammation induced by UV radiation after pretreatment with the cream and the gel on rats. For the gels containing SNEDDS, the highest penetration was measured after half an hour, while for the cream, it took one hour to reach the maximum concentration. The gel containing Pemulen TR-1 showed the highest drug release. It was determined that the curcumin-containing preparations can be safely applied on the skin and have antioxidant effects. The animal experiments have proven the effectiveness of curcumin-containing topical preparations.

Kappa-carrageenan based hybrid hydrogel for soft tissue engineering applications

Biological materials such as cell-derived membrane vesicles have emerged as alternative sources for molecular delivery systems, owing to multicomponent features, the inherent functionalities and signaling networks, and easy-to-carry therapeutic agents with various properties. Herein, red blood cell membrane (RBCM) vesicle-laden methacrylate kappa-carrageenan (KaMA) composite hydrogel is introduced for soft tissue engineering. Results revealed that the characteristics of hybrid hydrogels were significantly modulated by changing the RBCM vesicle content. For instance, the incorporation of 20% (v/v) RBCM significantly enhanced compressive strength from 103 ± 26 kPa to 257 ± 18 kPa and improved toughness under the cyclic loading from 1.0 ± 0.4 kJ m-3to 4.0 ± 0.5 kJ m-3after the 5thcycle. RBCM vesicles were also used for the encapsulation of curcumin (CUR) as a hydrophobic drug molecule. Results showed a controlled release of CUR over three days of immersion in PBS solution. The RBCM vesicles laden KaMA hydrogels also supportedin vitrofibroblast cell growth and proliferation. In summary, this research sheds light on KaMA/RBCM hydrogels, that could reveal fine-tuned properties and hydrophobic drug release in a controlled manner.

Nanostructures in Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for potential therapy

With its long clinical history, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained acceptance for its specific efficacy and safety in the treatment of multiple diseases. Nano-sized materials study of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) leads to an increased understanding of assessing TCM therapies, which may be a promising way to illustrate the material basis of CHMs through their processing and extraction. In this review, we provide an overview of the nanostructures of natural and engineered CHMs, including extracted CHMs, polymer nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, and nanofibers. Subsequently, the applications of these CHM-derived nanostructures to particular diseases are summarized and discussed. Additionally, we discuss the advantages of these nanostructures for studying the therapeutic efficacy of CHMs. Finally, the key challenges and opportunities for the development of these nanostructures are outlined.

Development and Validation of a Green Stability-Indicating HPTLC Method for Estimation of Curcumin, Gallic Acid, and Ursolic Acid From Polyherbal Formulation Jatyadi Taila

BACKGROUND

Jatyadi taila (JT) is a well-known Ayurvedic wound-healing product, comprising 16 different medicinally important plants, including Curcuma longa, Terminalia chebula, and Jasminum officinale.

OBJECTIVE

The proposed work discusses the development and validation of the green and economical stability-indicating HPTLC method for quantification of the key marker phytoconstituents, curcumin (CUR), gallic acid (GA), and ursolic acid (UA), from JT.

METHOD

Quality standard parameters for JT were determined following standard procedures. The marker constituents CUR, GA, and UA were resolved from JT using toluene-ethyl acetate-formic acid (6:2:1, v/v/v) as the mobile phase and subsequently derivatized to estimate UA. The developed plates were subjected to HPTLC-MS analysis. All constituents were subjected to forced degradation to determine the proposed technique's stability-indicating property and the accelerated stability studies of marketed formulation and marker constituents. Greenness evaluation of the method was aided by the AGREE methodology.

RESULTS

The Rf values of CUR, GA, and UA were found to be 0.60 and 0.60; 0.27 and 0.28; and 0.74 and 0.77 from reference standard and oil samples respectively, when analyzed at 366 nm, 290 nm, and 366 nm, respectively. HPTLC-MS was carried out to verify the active constituents present in JT. The constituents followed first-order degradation kinetics. The quantity of CUR, GA, and UA in JT was reduced at the end of accelerated stability studies. The developed approach was validated in compliance with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q2 (R2) guideline.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the chosen key markers, GA was highly unstable during forced degradation. JT should be stored at a controlled temperature using more protective packaging material to ensure its quality and efficacy.

HIGHLIGHTS

The developed method can be used as a quality control tool for JT as it can be used to determine the stability of the key marker compounds the herbal formulation.

Curcumin-based nanoformulations alleviate wounds and related disorders: A comprehensive review

Despite numerous advantages, curcumin's (CUR) low solubility and low bioavailability limit its employment as a free drug. CUR-incorporated nanoformulation enhances the bioavailability and angiogenesis, collagen deposition, fibroblast proliferation, reepithelization, collagen synthesis, neovascularization, and granulation tissue formation in different wounds. Designing nanoformulations with controlled-release properties ensure the presence of CUR in the defective area during treatment. Different nanoformulations encompassing nanofibers, nanoparticles (NPs), nanospray, nanoemulsion, nanosuspension, nanoliposome, nanovesicle, and nanomicelle were described in the present study comprehensively. Moreover, for some other systems which contain nano-CUR or CUR nanoformulations, including some nanofibers, films, composites, scaffolds, gel, and hydrogels seems the CUR-loaded NPs incorporation has better control of the sustained release, and thereby, the presence of CUR until the final stages of wound healing is more possible. Incorporating CUR-loaded chitosan NPs into nanofiber increased the release time, while 80% of CUR was released during 240 h (10 days). Therefore, this system can guarantee the presence of CUR during the entire healing period. Furthermore, porous structures such as sponges, aerogels, some hydrogels, and scaffolds disclosed promising performance. These architectures with interconnected pores can mimic the native extracellular matrix, thereby facilitating attachment and infiltration of cells at the wound site, besides maintaining a free flow of nutrients and oxygen within the three-dimensional structure essential for rapid and proper wound healing, as well as enhancing mechanical strength.

Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides/alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend as dressings for wound healing

Macromolecules with antioxidant properties such as polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAbs) are an excellent option for manufacturing wound dressings. Based on this, this study aimed to analyze preparation, physicochemical characterization, and assessment of the potential wound-healing activity of films based on sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol loaded with PAbs. PAbs did not significantly alter the cell viability of human neutrophils in a concentration range of 1-100 μg mL^-1. The Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) indicates that the components present in the films (PAbs/Sodium Alginate (SA)/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)) present an increase in hydrogen bonds due to the increase of hydroxyls present in the components. Thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) characterizations indicate a good miscibility between the components where PAbs increasing the amorphous characteristics of the films and that the addition of SA increased the mobility of the chains PVA polymers. The addition of PAbs to films significantly improves properties such as mechanical, thickness, and water vapor permeation. The morphological study evidenced good miscibility between the polymers. The wound healing evaluation indicated that F100 film presented better results from the fourth day onward compared to the other groups. It favored the formation of a thicker dermis (476.8 ± 18.99 μm), with greater collagen deposition and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate, markers of oxidative stress. These results indicate that PAbs is a candidate for wound dressing.

Improvement of Chitosan Films Properties by Blending with Cellulose, Honey and Curcumin

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer that can be used in biomedical applications, tissue engineering, and wound dressing because of its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity. The blending of chitosan films with natural biomaterials such as cellulose, honey, and curcumin was studied at different concentrations in order to improve their physical properties. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, mechanical tensile properties, X-ray diffraction (XRD), antibacterial effects, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were studied for all blended films. The XRD, FTIR, and mechanical results showed that films blended with curcumin were more rigid and compatible and had higher antibacterial effects than other blended films. In addition, XRD and SEM showed that blending chitosan films with curcumin decreases the crystallinity of the chitosan matrix compared to cellulose and honey blending films due to increased intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which reduces the close packing of the CS matrix.

Potential roles and molecular mechanisms of bioactive ingredients in Curcumae Rhizoma against breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality. Despite great advances in the therapeutic strategies, the survival rate in the past decades of patients with breast cancer remains unsatisfactory. Growing evidence has demonstrated that Curcumae Rhizoma, called Ezhu in Chinese, showed various pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities. It has been widely used in Chinese medicine to treat many types of human cancer.

PURPOSE

To comprehensively summarize and analyze the effects of active substances in Curcumae Rhizoma on breast cancer malignant phenotypes and the underlying mechanisms, as well as discuss its medicinal value and future perspectives.

METHOD

We used "Curcumae Rhizoma" or the name of crude extracts and bioactive components in Curcumae Rhizoma in combination with "breast cancer" as key words. Studies focusing on their anti-breast cancer activities and mechanisms of action were extracted from Pubmed, Web of Science and CNKI databases up to October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline was followed.

RESULTS

Crude extracts and 7 main bioactive phytochemicals (curcumol, β-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, germacrone, curdione and curcumin) isolated from Curcumae Rhizoma have shown many anti-breast cancer pharmacological properties, including inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness, reversing chemoresistance, and inducing cell apoptosis, cycle arrest and ferroptosis. The mechanisms of action were involved in regulating MAPK, PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo and clinical studies demonstrated that these compounds exhibited high anti-tumor efficacy and safety against breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide strong evidence that Curcumae Rhizoma acts as a rich source of phytochemicals and has robust anti-breast cancer properties.

Nanocrystals in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals by topical delivery

The main issues with local delivery of cosmetics are their high sensitivity and limited drug loading of active pharmaceutical ingredient. Nanocrystal technology offers consumers cutting-edge and effective products and exhibits enormous development potential in the beauty business as a new delivery method to address the issue of low solubility and low permeability of sensitive chemicals. In this review, we described the processes for making NCs, along with the impacts of loading and the uses of different carriers. Among them, nanocrystalline loaded gel and emulsion are widely used and may further improve the stability of the system. Then, we introduced the beauty efficacy of drug NCs from five aspects: anti-inflammation and acne, anti-bacterial, lightening and freckle removal, anti-aging as well as UV protection. Following that, we presented the current scenario about stability and safety. Finally, the challenges and vacancy were discussed along with the potential uses of NCs in the cosmetics industry. This review serves as a resource for the advancement of nanocrystal technology in the cosmetics sector.

Functionalised-biomatrix for wound healing and cutaneous regeneration: future impactful medical products in clinical translation and precision medicine

Skin tissue engineering possesses great promise in providing successful wound injury and tissue loss treatments that current methods cannot treat or achieve a satisfactory clinical outcome. A major field direction is exploring bioscaffolds with multifunctional properties to enhance biological performance and expedite complex skin tissue regeneration. Multifunctional bioscaffolds are three-dimensional (3D) constructs manufactured from natural and synthetic biomaterials using cutting-edge tissue fabrication techniques incorporated with cells, growth factors, secretomes, antibacterial compounds, and bioactive molecules. It offers a physical, chemical, and biological environment with a biomimetic framework to direct cells toward higher-order tissue regeneration during wound healing. Multifunctional bioscaffolds are a promising possibility for skin regeneration because of the variety of structures they provide and the capacity to customise the chemistry of their surfaces, which allows for the regulated distribution of bioactive chemicals or cells. Meanwhile, the current gap is through advanced fabrication techniques such as computational designing, electrospinning, and 3D bioprinting to fabricate multifunctional scaffolds with long-term safety. This review stipulates the wound healing processes used by commercially available engineered skin replacements (ESS), highlighting the demand for a multifunctional, and next-generation ESS replacement as the goals and significance study in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). This work also scrutinise the use of multifunctional bioscaffolds in wound healing applications, demonstrating successful biological performance in the in vitro and in vivo animal models. Further, we also provided a comprehensive review in requiring new viewpoints and technological innovations for the clinical application of multifunctional bioscaffolds for wound healing that have been found in the literature in the last 5 years.

A carrier-free nano-drug assembled via π-π stacking interaction for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered to be the most common joint disorder. Exogenous drug intervention is one of the effective means for OA treatment. Clinical applications of numerous drugs are restricted owing to the short retention as well as rapid clearance in the joint cavity. A wide variety of carrier-based nanodrugs have been developed, but additional carriers may bring unexpected side effects or even toxicity. Herein, by exploiting the spontaneous fluorescence of Curcumin, we designed a new carrier-free self-assembly nanomedicine Curcumin (Cur)/icariin (ICA) nanoparticles with adjustable particle size, which is composed of two small-molecule natural drugs assembled via π-π stacking interaction. Experimental results revealed that Cur/ICA NPs endowed with little cytotoxicity, high cellular uptake and sustained drug release, could inhibit secretion of inflammatory cytokines and reduce cartilage degeneration. Moreover, both the in vitro and in vivo experiments showed the NPs exerted superior synergism effects in anti-inflammatory and cartilage protection than either Cur or ICA alone, and self-monitored its retention by autofluorescence. Thus, the new self-assembly nano-drug combining Cur and ICA represents a new strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Curcumin loaded liposome formulation: Enhanced efficacy on performance, flesh quality, immune response with defense against Streptococcus agalactiae in Nile tilapia (Orechromis niloticus)

Application of novel trend comprising antioxidant phytogenics is aiming to minimize the stress related factors and associated diseases in intensive fish culturing. Today, the concept of exploiting and protecting natural antioxidants represents a paradigm shift for the aqua feed industry. Therefore, our principal goal targeting liposome as a novel nanocarrier for curcumin is directed to attain superior performance, fillet antioxidant stability and bacterial resistance in Nile tilapia. A total of 500 Nile tilapia fingerlings (average body weight, 10.27 ± 0.10 g) assigned into five experimental groups in 25 glass aquaria of 120 L capacity at the density 20 fish/aquaria. The experimental groups were supplemented with varying doses of liposomal curcumin-NPs, LipoCur-NPs (0, 5, 15, 25 and 35 mg/kg diet) were reared for 12 weeks and later Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) challenged model was performed. Inclusion of LipoCur-NPs (25 and 35 mg/kg diet) had the most prominent impact on Nile tilapia growth rate and feed conversion ratio. The immune boosting outcomes post supplementing 35 mg/kg diet of LipoCur-NPs were evidenced by higher myeloperoxidase, lysozyme and total immunoglobulin levels. Even after 4 weeks frozen storage, LipoCur-NPs at the dose of 35 mg/kg diet prominently increased (P < 0.05) the fillet scavenging capability for free radicals (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) with an inverse reduction in lipid peroxidation biomarker (malondialdehyde). Notably, upregulation of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD genes in fillet of 35 mg/kg LipoCur-NPs fed fish coordinated with higher T-AOC and lower oxidative markers (ROS and H₂O₂). Post S. agalactiae challenge, higher supplementation levels of LipoCur-NPs (35 mg/kg diet) greatly attenuated the expression of its vital virulence genes (cfb, fbsA and cpsA) with higher expression of Igm, CXC-chemokine and MHC genes. Concordantly, downregulation of inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-8) and upregulation of anti-inflammatory ones (IL-10 and TGF-β) were remarkably documented. Based on these findings, the innovative curcumin loaded liposome was considered a novel multitargeting alternative not only playing an imperative role in Nile tilapia growth promotion and fillet stability upon storage, but also protecting efficiently against S. agalactiae.

A fabricated hydrogel of hyaluronic acid/curcumin shows super-activity to heal the bacterial infected wound

High risk of acute morbidities and even mortality from expanding the antibiotics resistant infectious wounds force indefinite efforts for development of high performance wound-healing materials. Herein, we design a procedure to fabricate a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel to conjugate curcumin (Gel-H.P.Cur). The highlight of this work is to provide a favorite condition for capturing curcumin while protecting its structure and intensifying its activities because of the synchronization with HA. Accordingly, HA as a major component of dermis with a critical role in establishing skin health, could fortify the wound healing property as well as antibacterial activity of the hydrogel. Gel-H.P.Cur showed antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which were examined by bactericidal efficiency, disk diffusion, anti-biofilm, and pyocyanin production assays. The effects of Gel-H.P.Cur on the inhibition of quorum sensing (QS) regulatory genes that contribute to expanding bacteria in the injured place was also significant. In addition, Gel-H.P.Cur showed high potential to heal the cutaneous wounds on the mouse excisional wound model with repairing histopathological damages rapidly and without scar. Taken together, the results strongly support Gel-H.P.Cur as a multipotent biomaterial for medical applications regarding the treatment of chronic, infected, and dehiscent wounds.

Nanocrystals as an emerging nanocarrier for the management of dermatological diseases

Skin conditions are amongst the most prevalent health issues in the world and come with a heavy economic, social, and psychological burden. Incurable and chronic skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, fungal infections are linked to major morbidity in the manner of physical pain and a reduction in quality life of patients. Several drugs have difficulties for penetrating the skin due to the barrier mechanism of the skin layers and the incompatible physicochemical characteristics of the drugs. This has led to the introduction of innovative drug delivery methods. Currently, formulations depend on nanocrystals have indeed been researched for topical administration of drugs and have resulted in enhanced skin penetration. This review focuses on skin penetration barriers, modern methods to enhance topical distribution, and the use of nanocrystals to overcome these barriers. By means of mechanisms such as adherence to skin, creation of diffusional corona, targeting of hair follicles, and the generation of a greater concentration gradient throughout the skin, nanocrystals could enhance transport across the skin. Scientists working on product formulations incorporating chemicals that are "challenging-to-deliver" topically may find the most current findings to be of relevance.

Kampo herbal ointments for skin wound healing

The management of skin wound healing problems is a public health issue in which traditional herbal medicines could play a determining role. Kampo medicine, with three traditionally used ointments, provides interesting solutions for these dermatological issues. These ointments named Shiunkō, Chuōkō, and Shinsen taitsukō all have in common a lipophilic base of sesame oil and beeswax from which herbal crude drugs are extracted according to several possible manufacturing protocols. This review article brings together existing data on metabolites involved in the complex wound healing process. Among them are representatives of the botanical genera Angelica, Lithospermum, Curcuma, Phellodendron, Paeonia, Rheum, Rehmannia, Scrophularia, or Cinnamomum. Kampo provides numerous metabolites of interest, whose content in crude drugs is very sensitive to different biotic and abiotic factors and to the different extraction protocols used for these ointments. If Kampo medicine is known for its singular standardization, ointments are not well known, and research on these lipophilic formulas has not been developed due to the analytical difficulties encountered in biological and metabolomic analysis. Further research considering the complexities of these unique herbal ointments could contribute to a rationalization of Kampo's therapeutic uses for wound healing.