Curcumin-laden hyaluronic acid-co-Pullulan-based biomaterials as a potential platform to synergistically enhance the diabetic wound repair

Sprayable, thermosensitive hydrogels for promoting wound healing based on hollow, porous and pH-sensitive ZnO microspheres

A solvothermal method and the subsequent heat treatment process were developed to fabricate hollow ZnO particles with hierarchical pores on a large scale. The as-obtained hollow, porous ZnO microspheres with tunable sizes, high specific surface areas, pH sensitivity, antibacterial properties, and high adsorption capacities showed significant advantages for drug delivery. Sprayable hydrogels containing hollow, porous ZnO microspheres and curcumin nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared to accelerate wound healing. The water-dispersed CNPs promoted both the migration of fibroblasts and angiogenesis and an aqueous solution of Pluronic F127 (a temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel material) was shown to be an effective choice for medical dressings. The experimental data suggest that hollow, porous ZnO microspheres can be loaded with additional CNPs to achieve continuous long-term therapeutic effects.

Basic immunologic study as a foundation for engineered therapeutic development

Bioengineering and drug delivery technologies play an important role in bridging the gap between basic scientific discovery and clinical application of therapeutics. To identify the optimal treatment, the most critical stage is to diagnose the problem. Often these two may occur simultaneously or in parallel, but in this review, we focus on bottom-up approaches in understanding basic immunologic phenomena to develop targeted therapeutics. This can be observed in several fields; here, we will focus on one of the original immunotherapy targets-cancer-and one of the more recent targets-regenerative medicine. By understanding how our immune system responds in processes such as malignancies, wound healing, and medical device implantation, we can isolate therapeutic targets for pharmacologic and bioengineered interventions.

Trends in polysaccharide-based hydrogels and their role in enhancing the bioavailability and bioactivity of phytocompounds

Over the years, polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid, k-carrageenan, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, pectin, and starch, alone or in combination with proteins and/or synthetic polymers, have been used to engineer an extensive portfolio of hydrogels with remarkable features. The application of polysaccharide-based hydrogels has the potential to alleviate challenges related to bioavailability, solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of phytocompounds, contributing to the development of innovative and efficient drug delivery systems and functional food formulations. This review highlights the current knowledge acquired on the preparation, features and applications of polysaccharide/phytocompounds hydrogel-based hybrid systems in wound management, drug delivery, functional foods, and food industry. The structural, functional, and biological requirements of polysaccharides and phytocompounds on the overall performance of such hybrid systems, and their impact on the application domains are also discussed.

Multifunctional polysaccharide/metal/polyphenol double-crosslinked hydrogel for infected wound

Bacterial-infected wounds present a significant challenge in the medical field, posing a severe threat to public health. Traditional wound dressings have limited efficacy in treating bacterial-infected wounds, and antibiotics suffer from cytotoxicity and drug resistance. Consequently, an urgent requirement exists for developing multifunctional wound dressings capable of providing superior antimicrobial activity and expediting wound repair. In recent years, chitosan-based natural polysaccharide hydrogels have garnered attention for their biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, and ability to aid in hemostasis. This study presents the development of a multi-functional, bi-dynamic network hydrogel for the treatment of wounds infected with bacteria. The hydrogel consists of a backbone of chitosan grafted with chlorogenic acid (CA-ECS), oxidized pullulan polysaccharides (OP), and zinc ions (Zn2+). The CA-ECS/OP/Zn2+ hydrogel displayed strong adhesion, good injectability, and high mechanical strength and was biodegradable and biocompatible. Furthermore, adding Zn2+ and CA enhanced the hydrogel's mechanical properties and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In a rat model of full-thickness skin wounds infected with S. aureus, the CA-ECS/OP/Zn2+ hydrogel demonstrated great anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and folliculogenic properties, resulting in accelerated wound healing. The CA-ECS/OP/Zn2+ hydrogel has great potential for treating bacterial-infected wounds.

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.

Injectable and self-healable nano-architectured hydrogel for NIR-light responsive chemo- and photothermal bacterial eradication

Hydrogels with multifunctional properties activated at specific times have gained significant attention in the biomedical field. As bacterial infections can cause severe complications that negatively impact wound repair, herein, we present the development of a stimuli-responsive, injectable, and in situ-forming hydrogel with antibacterial, self-healing, and drug-delivery properties. In this study, we prepared a Pluronic F-127 (PF127) and sodium alginate (SA)-based hydrogel that can be targeted to a specific tissue via injection. The PF127/SA hydrogel was incorporated with polymeric short-filaments (SFs) containing an anti-inflammatory drug - ketoprofen, and stimuli-responsive polydopamine (PDA) particles. The hydrogel, after injection, could be in situ gelated at the body temperature, showing great in vitro stability and self-healing ability after 4 h of incubation. The SFs and PDA improved the hydrogel injectability and compressive strength. The introduction of PDA significantly accelerated the KET release under near-infrared light exposure and extended its release validity period. The excellent composites' photo-thermal performance led to antibacterial activity against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, resulting in 99.9% E. coli and S. aureus eradication after 10 min of NIR light irradiation. In vitro, fibroblast L929 cell studies confirmed the materials' biocompatibility and paved the way toward further in vivo and clinical application of the system for chronic wound treatments.

Sprayable hydroxypropyl chitin/collagen extract of Ampelopsis brevipedunculata hydrogel accelerates wound healing

OBJECTIVE

Keeping a wound moist can allow effective and rapid healing, and it can control the formation of scabs, thereby allowing cell proliferation and epithelial formation. When regularly changing a dressing, thermosensitive hydrogel as a moist dressing does not cause a secondary wound from adhesion. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new sprayable thermosensitive hydrogel on wound healing.

METHOD

The hydrophobic N-acetyl group of chitin was removed by microwave reaction with lye until the degree of acetylation was 60%, followed by reaction with propylene oxide to obtain hydroxypropyl chitin (HPCH) with a degree of substitution of 40%. After mixing HPCH with fish scale collagen (FSC), a thermosensitive hydrogel with a gel temperature of 26.5°C was obtained. Ampelopsis brevipedunculata extracts (ABE), which have been found to accelerate wound repair and improve healing, were added. HPCH/FSC is not toxic to the mouse L929 cell line and forms a hydrogel at body surface temperature. It can be easily sprayed on a wound. The HPCH/FSC has a three-dimensional network porous structure with a swelling ratio of 10.95:1 and a water vapour transmission rate of 2386.03±228.87g/m2/day; it can facilitate the penetration of water and air, and promote absorption of wound exudate. Wound repair was performed on five Sprague-Dawley rats. Each rat had three wounds, which were treated with medical gauze, HPCH/FSC and HPCH/FSC/ABE, respectively.

RESULTS

The wounds in the HPCH/FSC/ABE group recovered the fastest in vivo, the mature wound site was smoother, the re-epithelialisation was even and thicker, and the angiogenesis developed rapidly to the mature stage.

CONCLUSION

In this study, HPCH/FSC/ABE thermosensitive hydrogel was shown to effectively accelerate wound healing and was convenient for practical application.

Self-healing hydrogels based on biological macromolecules in wound healing: A review

The complete healing of skin wounds has been a challenge in clinical treatment. Self-healing hydrogels are special hydrogels formed by distinctive physicochemically reversible bonds, and they are considered promising biomaterials in the biomedical field owing to their inherently good drug-carrying capacity as well as self-healing and repair abilities. Moreover, natural polymeric materials have received considerable attention in skin tissue engineering owing to their low cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and excellent biodegradation rates. In this paper, we review recent advances in the design of self-healing hydrogels based on natural polymers for skin-wound healing applications. First, we outline a variety of natural polymers that can be used to construct self-healing hydrogel systems and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different natural polymers. We then describe the principle of self-healing hydrogels in terms of two different crosslinking mechanisms-physical and chemical-and dissect their performance characteristics based on the practical needs of skin-trauma applications. Next, we outline the biological mechanisms involved in the healing of skin wounds and describe the current application strategies for self-healing hydrogels based on these mechanisms. Finally, we analyze and summarize the challenges and prospects of natural-material-based self-healing hydrogels for skin applications.

Curcumin-loaded methacrylate pullulan with grafted carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin to form hydrogels for wound healing: In vitro evaluation

A pullulan (Pul)-derivative hydrogel was developed by introducing methacrylate (MA) groups and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) to form a Pul-βCD-MA hydrogel by UV cross-linking. The MA was expected to improve the hydrogel's mechanical properties and the βCD to increase the solubility of curcumin. Pul-βCD-MA was successfully synthesized, as confirmed by the 1H NMR and FTIR spectra. Hydrogels were formed at Pul-βCD-MA concentrations of 5 %, 7.5 %, or 10 % w/v. Pul-βCD-MA showed enhanced curcumin solubility compared to Pul or Pul-MA. The morphological analysis of the hydrogel showed a porous structure. The concentration of βCD affected the hydrogels' mechanical properties, and the 7.5 % hydrogel (with or without curcumin) did not fracture. The cumulative release of curcumin in the 7.5 % Pul-βCD-MA hydrogel was 60 % over 8 h. The release profile fit the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. In vitro cytotoxicity tests revealed that hydrogels were biocompatible with human primary dermal fibroblast cells. Curcumin-loaded Pul-βCD-MA hydrogels significantly accelerated wound healing compared to Pul-βCD-MA hydrogels without curcumin loading. Therefore, the Pul derivative's hydrogel may be a promising material for wound healing.

Production and applications of pullulan from lignocellulosic biomass: Challenges and perspectives

Pullulan is an exopolysaccharide produced by Aureobasidium pullulans, with interesting characteristics which lead to its application in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and others. To reduce production costs for industrial applications, cheaper raw materials such as lignocellulosic biomass can be utilized as a carbon and nutrient source for the microbial process. In this study, a comprehensive and critical review was conducted, encompassing the pullulan production process and the key influential variables. The main properties of the biopolymer were presented, and different applications were discussed. Subsequently, the utilization of lignocellulosics for pullulan production within the framework of a biorefinery concept was explored, considering the main published works that deal with materials such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, corn straw, and corn cob. Next, the main challenges and future prospects in this research area were highlighted, indicating the key strategies to favor the industrial production of pullulan from lignocellulosic biomasses.

Advanced polymer hydrogels that promote diabetic ulcer healing: mechanisms, classifications, and medical applications

Diabetic ulcers (DUs) are one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus. The application of a functional dressing is a crucial step in DU treatment and is associated with the patient's recovery and prognosis. However, traditional dressings with a simple structure and a single function cannot meet clinical requirements. Therefore, researchers have turned their attention to advanced polymer dressings and hydrogels to solve the therapeutic bottleneck of DU treatment. Hydrogels are a class of gels with a three-dimensional network structure that have good moisturizing properties and permeability and promote autolytic debridement and material exchange. Moreover, hydrogels mimic the natural environment of the extracellular matrix, providing suitable surroundings for cell proliferation. Thus, hydrogels with different mechanical strengths and biological properties have been extensively explored as DU dressing platforms. In this review, we define different types of hydrogels and elaborate the mechanisms by which they repair DUs. Moreover, we summarize the pathological process of DUs and review various additives used for their treatment. Finally, we examine the limitations and obstacles that exist in the development of the clinically relevant applications of these appealing technologies. This review defines different types of hydrogels and carefully elaborate the mechanisms by which they repair diabetic ulcers (DUs), summarizes the pathological process of DUs, and reviews various bioactivators used for their treatment.

Functionalization of curcumin nanomedicines: a recent promising adaptation to maximize pharmacokinetic profile, specific cell internalization and anticancer efficacy against breast cancer

Owing to its diverse heterogeneity, aggressive nature, enormous metastatic potential, and high remission rate, the breast cancer (BC) is among the most prevalent types of cancer associated with high mortality. Curcumin (Cur) is a potent phytoconstituent that has gained remarkable recognition due to exceptional biomedical viability against a wide range of ailments including the BC. Despite exhibiting a strong anticancer potential, the clinical translation of Cur is restricted due to intrinsic physicochemical properties such as low aqueous solubility, chemical instability, low bioavailability, and short plasma half-life. To overcome these shortcomings, nanotechnology-aided developments have been extensively deployed. The implication of nanotechnology has pointedly improved the physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic profile, cell internalization, and anticancer efficacy of Cur; however, majority of Cur-nanomedicines are still facing grandeur challenges. The advent of various functionalization strategies such as PEGylation, surface decoration with different moieties, stimuli-responsiveness (i.e., pH, light, temperature, heat, etc.), tethering of specific targeting ligand(s) based on the biochemical targets (e.g., folic acid receptors, transferrin receptors, CD44, etc.), and multifunctionalization (multiple functionalities) has revolutionized the fate of Cur-nanomedicines. This study ponders the biomedical significance of various Cur-nanomedicines and adaptable functionalizations for amplifying the physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity via induction of apoptosis, cell internalization, bioavailability, passive and active targeting to the tumor microenvironment (TME), and anticancer efficacy of the Cur while reversing the multidrug resistance (MDR) and reoccurrence in BC. Nevertheless, the therapeutic outcomes of Cur-nanomedicines against the BC have been remarkably improved after adaptation of various functionalizations; however, this evolving strategy still demands extensive research for scalable clinical translation.

Pullulan in pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical formulations: A review

Pullulan, an α-glucan polysaccharide, is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, highly biocompatible, edible and biodegradable in nature. The long chains of glucopyranose rings in pullulan structure are linked together by α-(1 → 4) and α-(1 → 6) glycosidic linkages. The occurrence of both glycosidic linkages in the pullulan structure contributes to its distinctive properties. The unique structure of pullulan makes it a potent candidate for both pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications. In pharmaceuticals, it can be used as a drug carrier and in various dosage formulations. It has been widely used in drug targeting, implants, ocular dosage forms, topical formulations, oral dosage forms, and oral liquid formulations, etc. Pullulan can be used as a potential carrier of active ingredients and their site-specific delivery to skin layers for cosmeceutical applications. It has been extensively used in cosmeceutical formulations like creams, shampoo, lotions, sunscreen, facial packs, etc. The current review highlights applications of pullulan in pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications.

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.

Pullulan-Based Hydrogels in Wound Healing and Skin Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review

Wound healing is a complex process of overlapping phases with the primary aim of the creation of new tissues and restoring their anatomical functions. Wound dressings are fabricated to protect the wound and accelerate the healing process. Biomaterials used to design dressing of wounds could be natural or synthetic as well as the combination of both materials. Polysaccharide polymers have been used to fabricate wound dressings. The applications of biopolymers, such as chitin, gelatin, pullulan, and chitosan, have greatly expanded in the biomedical field due to their non-toxic, antibacterial, biocompatible, hemostatic, and nonimmunogenic properties. Most of these polymers have been used in the form of foams, films, sponges, and fibers in drug carrier devices, skin tissue scaffolds, and wound dressings. Currently, special focus has been directed towards the fabrication of wound dressings based on synthesized hydrogels using natural polymers. The high-water retention capacity of hydrogels makes them potent candidates for wound dressings as they provide a moist environment in the wound and remove excess wound fluid, thereby accelerating wound healing. The incorporation of pullulan with different, naturally occurring polymers, such as chitosan, in wound dressings is currently attracting much attention due to the antimicrobial, antioxidant and nonimmunogenic properties. Despite the valuable properties of pullulan, it also has some limitations, such as poor mechanical properties and high cost. However, these properties are improved by blending it with different polymers. Additionally, more investigations are required to obtain pullulan derivatives with suitable properties in high quality wound dressings and tissue engineering applications. This review summarizes the properties and wound dressing applications of naturally occurring pullulan, then examines it in combination with other biocompatible polymers, such chitosan and gelatin, and discusses the facile approaches for oxidative modification of pullulan.

Curcumin Release from Biomaterials for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration Following Injury or Disease

Curcumin, a bioactive phenol derived from turmeric, is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial molecule. Although curcumin exhibits beneficial effects in its innate form, it is highly hydrophobic, which leads to poor water solubility and, consequently, low bioavailability. The lack of bioavailability limits curcumin's effectiveness as a treatment and restricts its use in clinical applications. Furthermore, to achieve beneficial, clinically relevant results, high doses of curcumin are required for systemic administration. Many researchers have utilized biomaterial carriers, including electrospun fibers, nanoparticles, hydrogels, and composite scaffolds, to overcome curcumin's principle therapeutic limitation of low bioavailability. By using biomaterials to deliver curcumin directly to injury sites, researchers have harnessed the beneficial natural properties of curcumin while providing scaffolding to support tissue regeneration. This review will provide an in-depth overview of the literature that utilizes biomaterial delivery of curcumin for tissue regeneration in injury and disease models.

Polysaccharide-Based Multifunctional Hydrogel Bio-Adhesives for Wound Healing: A Review

Wound healing is a long-term and complex biological process that involves multiple hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling stages. In order to realize comprehensive and systematic wound management, appropriate wound treatment bio-adhesives are urgently needed. Hydrogel bio-adhesives have excellent properties and show unique and remarkable advantages in the field of wound management. This review begins with a detailed description of the design criteria and functionalities of ideal hydrogel bio-adhesives for wound healing. Then, recent advances in polysaccharide-based multifunctional hydrogel bio-adhesives, which involve chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, cellulose, dextran, konjac glucomannan, chondroitin sulfate, and other polysaccharides, are comprehensively discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future research directions of polysaccharide-based hydrogel bio-adhesives for wound healing are proposed to stimulate further exploration by researchers.

High-level production of pullulan and its biosynthesis regulation in Aureobasidium pullulans BL06

Pullulan has many potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and environmental industries. However, the yield and molecular properties of pullulan produced by various strains still need to be promoted to fit the application needs. A novel yeast-like strain Aureobasidium pullulans BL06 producing high molecular weight (Mw) pullulan (3.3 × 10⁶ Da) was isolated and identified in this study. The remarkable Mw of pullulan produced by A. pullulans BL06 was the highest level ever reported thus far. To further regulate the biosynthesis of pullulan in A. pullulans BL06, three gene knockout strains A. pullulans BL06 ΔPMAs, A. pullulans BL06 Δmel, and A. pullulans BL06 ΔPMAsΔmel, were constructed. The results showed that A. pullulans BL06 ΔPMAs could produce 140.2 g/L of moderate Mw (1.3 × 10⁵ Da) pullulan after 120 h of fermentation. The highest yield level of pullulan to date could vastly reduce its production cost and expand its application scope and potential. The application experiments in food preservation showed that the moderate-Mw pullulan obtained in this work could reduce the weight loss of celery cabbages and mangos by 12.5% and 22%, respectively. Thus, the novel strains A. pullulans BL06 and A. pullulans BL06 ΔPMAs possessed unlimited development prospects in pullulan production at various Mw ranges and pullulan applications in multiple fields.

Accelerated Simple Preparation of Curcumin-Loaded Silk Fibroin/Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

The development of new biomaterials from natural fibres in the field of biomedicine have attracted great interest in recent years. One of the most studied fibres has been silk fibroin produced by the Bombyx mori worm, due to its excellent mechanical properties and its biodegradability and bioavailability. Among the different biomaterials that can be prepared from silk fibroin, hydrogels have attracted considerable attention due to their potential use in different fields, such as scaffolding, cell therapy and biomedical application. Hydrogels are essentially a three-dimensional network of flexible polymer chains that absorb considerable amounts of water and can be loaded with drugs and/or cells inside to be used in a wide variety of applications. Here we present a simple sonication process for the preparation of curcumin-hyaluronic acid-silk fibroin hydrogels. Different grades of hydrogels were prepared by controlling the relative amounts of their components. The hydrogels were physically and morphologically characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and their biological activity was tested in terms of cell viability in a fibroblast cell line.

Advances in the Preparation of Nanofiber Dressings by Electrospinning for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing

Chronic diabetic wounds are one of the main complications of diabetes, manifested by persistent inflammation, decreased epithelialization motility, and impaired wound healing. This will not only lead to the repeated hospitalization of patients, but also bear expensive hospitalization costs. In severe cases, it can lead to amputation, sepsis or death. Electrospun nanofibers membranes have the characteristics of high porosity, high specific surface area, and easy functionalization of structure, so they can be used as a safe and effective platform in the treatment of diabetic wounds and have great application potential. This article briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of chronic diabetic wounds and the types of dressings commonly used, and then reviewed the development of electrospinning technology in recent years and the advantages of electrospun nanofibers in the treatment of diabetic wounds. Finally, the reports of different types of nanofiber dressings on diabetic wounds are summarized, and the method of using multi-drug combination therapy in diabetic wounds is emphasized, which provides new ideas for the effective treatment of diabetic wounds.

Curcumin Inhibits Hyperandrogen-Induced IRE1α-XBP1 Pathway Activation by Activating the PI3K/AKT Signaling in Ovarian Granulosa Cells of PCOS Model Rats

Background

Hyperandrogenism is a common characteristic of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Long-term, continuous exposure to hyperandrogenic environments may cause excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from turmeric rhizomes which has several pharmacological effects that may benefit patients with PCOS. To explore whether curcumin can inhibit hyperandrogen-induced ER stress in ovarian GCs of PCOS rats and to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We developed PCOS model rats by exposure to hyperandrogenic conditions and divided the rats into control, PCOS, and PCOS+curcumin (200 mg/kg, for 8 weeks) groups. The levels of ER stress-related proteins and PI3K/AKT phosphorylation were measured in the ovarian tissue of all experimental groups by real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Subsequent in vitro analysis on primary cultured GCs was performed to confirm the influence of curcumin on ER stress inhibition by immunofluorescence and western blotting.

Results

Curcumin protects GCs from hyperandrogen-induced apoptosis in PCOS model rats by inhibiting the ER stress-related IRE1α-XBP1 pathway and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusions

These observations indicate that curcumin might be a safe and useful supplement for PCOS patients.

Chitosan/guar gum-based thermoreversible hydrogels loaded with pullulan nanoparticles for enhanced nose-to-brain drug delivery

The biopolymers-based two-fold system could provide a sustained release platform for drug delivery to the brain resisting the mucociliary clearance, enzymatic degradation, bypassing the first-pass hepatic metabolism, and BBB thus providing superior bioavailability through intranasal administration. In this study, poloxamers PF-127/PF-68 grafted chitosan HCl-co-guar gum-based thermoresponsive hydrogel loaded with eletriptan hydrobromide laden pullulan nanoparticles was synthesized and subjected to dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, stability studies, mucoadhesive strength and time, gel strength, cloud point assessment, rheological assessment, ex-vivo permeation, cell viability assay, histology studies, and in-vivo Pharmacokinetics studies, etc. It is quite evident that CSG-EH-NPs T-Hgel has an enhanced sustained release drug profile where approximately 86 % and 84 % of drug released in phosphate buffer saline and simulated nasal fluid respectively throughout 48 h compared to EH-NPs where 99.44 % and 97.53 % of the drug was released in PBS and SNF for 8 h. In-vivo PKa parameters i.e., mean residence time (MRT) of 11.9 ± 0.83 compared to EH-NPs MRT of 10.2 ± 0.92 and area under the curve (AUC_tot) of 42,540.5 ± 5314.14 comparing to AUC_tot of EH-NPs 38,026 ± 6343.1 also establish the superiority of CSG-EH-NPs T-Hgel.

Hyaluronic acid functionalization improves dermal targeting of polymeric nanoparticles for management of burn wounds: In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo evaluations

Owing to its intricate pathophysiology, impaired wound healing is one of the substantial challenges in the treatment of burn wounds (BWs). Despite the variety of conventional therapies available, morbidities associated with BWs have not subsided. Therefore, aim of the present study was to design an advanced nanotechnology-composited therapy for effectual management of BWs. Hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized curcumin (CUR) and quercetin (QUE) co-loaded nanoparticle (HA-CUR-QUE-CSNPs) were fabricated, optimized, characterized and evaluated for successful co-encapsulation of drugs, morphology, stability, drug release, cell proliferation, penetration across the skin, localization in the epidermis and dermis, and in vivo wound healing efficacy. Fabricated HA-functionalized CSNPs exhibited ultra-small size (177 ± 11 nm), good zeta potential (+37.0 ± 3.2 mV), high encapsulation efficiency (EE) (QUE ∼84% and CUR ∼64%) and loading capacity (LC) (QUE ∼38% and CUR ∼43%), and spherical shape with uniformly rough surface. HA-functionalized CSNPs showed a triphasic release pattern with Fickian diffusion kinetics, a time-mannered progression in MC3T3-E1 cells proliferation, improved penetration of CUR (2414 µg/cm²) and QUE (1984 µg/cm²) through stratum corneum, and good localization of drugs in the epidermis and dermis. A superior wound healing efficacy (98% wound closure rate at day 28) with marked histological signs of minimal infiltration of inflammatory cells, re-epithelization, ECM formation, fibroblast infiltration at wound site, granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition were also evidenced. This study concludes that HA-functionalization of polymeric NPs could be a promising approach to maximize skin penetration efficiency, localization of drugs in skin tissues, tissue regeneration and BWs healing.

Biofunctional Hyaluronic Acid/κ-Carrageenan Injectable Hydrogels for Improved Drug Delivery and Wound Healing

The in situ injectable hydrogel system offers a widespread range of biomedical applications in prompt chronic wound treatment and management, as it provides self-healing, maintains a moist wound microenvironment, and offers good antibacterial properties. This study aimed to develop and evaluate biopolymer-based thermoreversible injectable hydrogels for effective wound-healing applications and the controlled drug delivery of meropenem. The injectable hydrogel was developed using the solvent casting method and evaluated for structural changes using proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated the self-assembly of hyaluronic acid and kappa-carrageenan and the thermal stability of the fabricated injectable hydrogel with tunable gelation properties. The viscosity assessment indicated the in-situ gelling ability and injectability of the hydrogels at various temperatures. The fabricated hydrogel was loaded with meropenem, and the drug release from the hydrogel in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) with a pH of 7.4 was 96.12%, and the simulated wound fluid with a pH of 6.8 was observed to be at 94.73% at 24 h, which corresponds to the sustained delivery of meropenem. Antibacterial studies on P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coli with meropenem-laden hydrogel showed higher zones of inhibition. The in vivo studies in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats presented accelerated healing with the drug-loaded injectable hydrogel, while 90% wound closure with the unloaded injectable hydrogel, 70% in the positive control group (SC drug), and 60% in the negative control group was observed (normal saline) after fourteen days. In vivo wound closure analysis confirmed that the developed polymeric hydrogel has synergistic wound-healing potential.

Poloxamer188-based nanoparticles improve the anti-oxidation and anti-degradation of curcumin

Curcumin (CUR) is a food additive approved by World Health Organization. But the shortcomings, such as poor water solubility, easy oxidation and degradation, limit its application. In this study, the CUR-loaded poloxamer₁₈₈-based nanoparticles (CUR/PTT NPs) were fabricated to improve the stability and water solubility of CUR. Studies found the spherical CUR/PTT NPs had an average size of 98.71 ± 0.64 nm. Stability experiments displayed CUR/PTT NPs were extremely stable in different conditions. XRD analysis indicated the changes of crystal structures of CUR might be the main cause of the improved water solubility. Reducing power and anti-degradation tests suggested CUR/PTT NPs could improve the anti-oxidation and anti-degradation of CUR. Additionally, the results of body weight gains, hematological examination, organ coefficients, hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated CUR/PTT NPs bearing the excellent in vivo bio-security. Therefore, this study may provide a new idea for the combination of food industry and nanoparticles.