α-Tocopherol-loaded reactive oxygen species-scavenging ferrocene nanocapsules with high antioxidant efficacy for wound healing

A novel transdermal drug delivery system: drug-loaded ROS-responsive ferrocene fibers for effective photoprotective and wound healing activity

The present study proposes an innovative transdermal drug delivery system using ferrocene-incorporated fibers to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. Using electrospinning technology, the authors created ferrocene polymer fibers capable of highly efficient drug encapsulation and controlled release in response to reactive oxygen species commonly found in wound sites. The approach improves upon previous methods significantly by offering higher drug loading capacities and sustained release, directly targeting diseased cells. The results confirm the potential of ferrocene fibers for localized drug delivery, potentially reducing side effects and increasing patient convenience. The method could facilitate the application of bioactive compounds in medical textiles and targeted therapy.

Selective Binding of Tannic Acid-Conjugated Lipid Nanovesicles to Proline-Rich Proteins Enhances Transdermal Lipophilic-Antioxidant Delivery

Tannic acid (TA) possesses a notable ability to adhere to proline-rich proteins that make up skin cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the skin tissue. Drug carriers with this specific adhesion ability exhibit improved drug delivery efficiency on the skin. Taking advantage of this, this study presents skin-adhesive TA-conjugated lipid nanovesicles (TANVs) for enhanced transdermal antioxidant delivery. We found that TANVs exhibited selective intermolecular interactions with keratinocyte proline-rich proteins (KPRPs) and collagen that makes up skin cells by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, further enabling the strong bonding to macroscopic skin itself and ECM. We used vitamin E (α-tocopherol), which is known to effectively reduce oxidative stress but has limited skin penetration, as a drug to verify improved in vitro delivery and therapeutic efficacy. The evaluation revealed that the antioxidant-loaded TANVs exerted excellent scavenging effects against reactive oxygen species induced by ultraviolet light or peroxides in the skin, thereby enabling the development of an active drug delivery system for dermal therapy.

Brain oxidative stress mediates anxiety-like behavior induced by indomethacin in zebrafish: protective effect of alpha-tocopherol

RATIONALE

Indomethacin (INDO) is a widely utilized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with recognized effect on the central nervous system. Although previous reports demonstrate that prolonged treatment with indomethacin can lead to behavioral alterations such as anxiety disorder, the biochemical effect exerted by this drug on the brain are not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of present study was to evaluate if anxiety-like behavior elicited by indomethacin is mediated by brains oxidative stress as well as if alpha-tocopherol, a potent antioxidant, is able to prevent the behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by indomethacin treatment.

METHODS

Zebrafish were utilized as experimental model and subdivided into control, INDO 1 mg/Kg, INDO 2 mg/Kg, INDO 3 g/Kg, α-TP 2 mg/Kg, α-TP 2 mg/Kg + INDO 1 mg/Kg and α-TP + INDO 2 mg/Kg groups. Vertical distributions elicited by novelty and brain oxidative stress were utilized to determinate behavioral and biochemical alterations elicited by indomethacin treatment, respectively.

RESULTS

Our results showed that treatment with indomethacin 3 mg/kg induces animal death. No changes in animal survival were observed in animals treated with lower doses of indomethacin. Indomethacin induced significant anxiogenic-like behavior as well as intense oxidative stress in zebrafish brain. Treatment with alpha-tocopherol was able to prevent anxiety-like behavior and brain oxidative stress induced by indomethacin.

CONCLUSIONS

Data presented in current study demonstrated for the first time that indomethacin induces anxiety-like behavior mediated by brain oxidative stress in zebrafish as well as that pre-treatment with alpha-tocopherol is able to prevent these collateral effects.

Self-assembled low molecular weight chitosan-based cationic micelle for improved water solubility, stability and sustained release of α-tocopherol

New amphiphilic low molecular weight chitosan-graft-nicotinic acid bearing decyl groups (LCND) was synthesized by two-step reaction and spontaneously assembled into cationic micelle by ultra-sonication method to improve water solubility and photostability properties of α-tocopherol. The chemical structure of LCND was characterized and physical properties of cationic micelle were evaluated. Results displayed that cationic micelle exhibited strong self-assemble ability with nanoscale spherical morphology and showed best loading ability with loading content of 18.50% when the feeding ratio of LCND to α-tocopherol reached 10:3. Meanwhile, the greatly enhanced water solubility, photostability and sustained release behavior of α-tocopherol in cationic micelle were observed. The cumulative release of α-tocopherol in cationic micelle reached up 82.18% within 96 h while free α-tocopherol was completely released within 10 h. Additionally, release kinetics models were also fitted. The LCND cationic micelle could be promising nanocarrier for improving the physicochemical properties of α-tocopherol in food fields.

Grape seed proanthocyanidins regulate mitophagy of endothelial cells and promote wound healing in mice through p-JNK/FOXO3a/ROS signal pathway

Skin wound healing is a dynamic and complex process that involves multiple physiological and cellular events. Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSP) have strong anti-oxidation and elimination of oxygen free radicals, and have been shown to significantly promote wound healing, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Studies have indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) acts as an upstream signal to induce mitophagy, suggesting that GSP can regulate mitophagy through the signal pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether GSP regulates mitophagy by down-regulating oxidative stress to promote wound healing. In vivo, GSP treatment accelerated wound healing, granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis in mice. Moreover, GSP down-regulated ROS levels and promoted the expression of antioxidant proteins by up-regulating the expression of p-JNK/FOXO3a protein, thereby regulating the expression of mitophagy-related proteins. In vitro, 4 μg/mL GSP showed no apparent toxic effects on cells and effectively reduce the oxidative stress damage of cells induced by H2O2. Western blot and superoxide anion fluorescence probe further confirmed that GSP effectively reduced Dihydroethidium content and up-regulated the expression of antioxidant proteins by activation of p-JNK/FOXO3a protein expression, thereby regulating mitophagy. Taken together, the findings from in vitro and in vivo experiments provide new insights into the promotion of wound healing by GSP.

Highly Water-Dispersed and Stable Deinoxanthin Nanocapsule for Effective Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Introduction

Deinoxanthin (DX), a carotenoid, has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, owing to its lipophilicity, it is unfavorably dispersed in water and has low stability, limiting its application in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, it is necessary to study nanoparticles to increase the loading capacity and stability of DX.

Methods

In this study, DX-loaded nanocapsules (DX@NCs) were prepared by nanoprecipitation by loading DX into nanocapsules. The size, polydispersity index, surface charge, and morphology of DX@NCs were confirmed through dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The loading content and loading efficiency of DX in DX@NCs were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of DX@NCs was evaluated by DPPH assay and in vitro ROS. The biocompatibility of DX@NCs was evaluated using an in vitro MTT assay. In vitro NO analysis was performed to determine the effective anti-inflammatory efficacy of DX@NCs.

Results

DX@NCs exhibited increased stability and antioxidant efficacy owing to the improved water solubility of DX. The in situ and in vitro antioxidant activity of DX@NCs was higher than that of unloaded DX. In addition, it showed a strong anti-inflammatory effect by regulating the NO level in an in vitro cell model.

Conclusion

This study presents a nanocarrier to improve the water-soluble dispersion and stability of DX. These results demonstrate that DX@NC is a carrier with excellent stability and has a high potential for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Co-Encapsulation of Curcumin and α-Tocopherol in Bicosome Systems: Physicochemical Properties and Biological Activity

A novel co-encapsulation system called bicosomes (bicelles within liposomes) has been developed to overcome the limitations associated with the topical application of curcumin (cur) and α-tocopherol (α-toc). The physicochemical properties and biological activity in vitro of bicosome systems were evaluated. Bicelles were prepared with DPPC, DHPC, cur, and α-toc (cur/α-toc-bicelles). Liposomal vesicles loading cur/α-toc-bicelles were prepared with Lipoid P-100 and cholesterol-forming cur/α-toc-bicosomes. Three cur/α-toc-bicosomes were evaluated using different total lipid percentages (12, 16, and 20% w/v). The results indicated that formulations manage to solubilize cur and α-toc in homogeneous bicelles < 20 nm, while the bicosomes reaches 303-420 nm depending on the total lipid percentage in the systems. Bicosomes demonstrated high-encapsulation efficiency (EE) for cur (56-77%) and α-toc (51-65%). The loading capacity (LC) for both antioxidant compounds was 52-67%. In addition, cur/α-toc-bicosomes decreased the lipid oxidation by 52% and increased the antioxidant activity by 60% compared to unloaded bicosomes. The cell viability of these cur/α-toc-bicosomes was >85% in fibroblasts (3T3L1/CL-173™) and ≥65% in keratinocytes (Ha-CaT) and proved to be hematologically compatible. The cur/α-toc-bicelles and cur/α-toc-bicosomes inhibited the growth of C. albicans in a range between 33 and 76%. Our results propose bicosome systems as a novel carrier able to co-encapsulate, solubilize, protect, and improve the delivery performance of antioxidant molecules. The relevance of these findings is based on the synergistic antioxidant effect of its components, its biocompatibility, and its efficacy for dermal tissue treatment damaged by oxidative stress or by the presence of C. albicans. However, further studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of cur/α-toc bicosomes in vitro and in vivo.

Biomaterials releasing drug responsively to promote wound healing via regulation of pathological microenvironment

Wound healing is characterized by complex, orchestrated, spatiotemporal dynamic processes. Recent findings demonstrated suitable local microenvironments were necessities for wound healing. Wound microenvironments include various biological, biochemical and physical factors, which are produced and regulated by endogenous biomediators, exogenous drugs, and external environment. Successful drug delivery to wound is complicated, and need to overcome the destroyed blood supply, persistent inflammation and enzymes, spatiotemporal requirements of special supplements, and easy deactivation of drugs. Triggered by various factors from wound microenvironment itself or external elements, stimuli-responsive biomaterials have tremendous advantages of precise drug delivery and release. Here, we discuss recent advances of stimuli-responsive biomaterials to regulate local microenvironments during wound healing, emphasizing on the design and application of different biomaterials which respond to wound biological/biochemical microenvironments (ROS, pH, enzymes, glucose and glutathione), physical microenvironments (mechanical force, temperature, light, ultrasound, magnetic and electric field), and the combination modes. Moreover, several novel promising drug carriers (microbiota, metal-organic frameworks and microneedles) are also discussed.

Low-Energy Shock Wave Suppresses Prostatic Pain and Inflammation by Modulating Mitochondrial Dynamics Regulators on a Carrageenan-Induced Prostatitis Model in Rats

A low-energy shock wave (LESW) has therapeutic effects on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS); however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. We explored the effects of LESW on the prostate and mitochondrial dynamics regulators in a rat model of carrageenan-induced prostatitis. The imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics regulators may affect the inflammatory process and molecules and contribute to CP/CPPS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received intraprostatic 3% or 5% carrageenan injections. The 5% carrageenan group also received LESW treatment at 24 h, 7 days, and 8 days. Pain behavior was evaluated at baseline, 1 week, and 2 weeks after a saline or carrageenan injection. The bladder and the prostate were harvested for immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Intraprostatic carrageenan injection induced inflammatory reaction in the prostate and the bladder, decreased the pain threshold, and resulted in the upregulation of Drp-1, MFN-2, NLRP3 (mitochondrial integrity markers), substance P, and CGRP-RCP, whose effects were maintained for 1-2 weeks. LESW treatment suppressed carrageenan-induced prostatic pain, inflammatory reaction, mitochondrial integrity markers, and expression of sensory molecules. These findings support a link between the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of LESW in CP/CPPS and the reversal of cellular perturbations caused by imbalances in mitochondrial dynamics in the prostate.

Facile Fabrication of α-Bisabolol Nanoparticles with Improved Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects

Bioactive compounds are widely used in the bio-industry because of their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Because of excessive oxidative stress, which causes various diseases in humans, and because preservatives used in bioproducts cause allergies and contact dermatitis, it is important to use natural bioactive compounds in bioproducts to minimize oxidative stress. α-bisabolol (ABS) is a natural compound with both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. However, its water-insolubility makes its utilization in bioproducts difficult. In this study, ABS-loaded polyglyceryl-4 caprate nanoparticles (ABS@NPs) with improved aqueous stability and ABS loading were fabricated using an encapsulation method. The long-term stability of the ABS@NPs was analyzed with dynamic light scattering and methylene blue-staining to determine the optimized ABS concentration in ABS@NPs (10 wt%). The ABS@NPs exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, according to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and in vitro reactive oxygen species generation in NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, and an outstanding antibacterial effect, as determined using the Staphylococcus aureus colony-counting method. Furthermore, we evaluated the biocompatibility of the ABS@NPs in vitro. This study suggests that ABS@NPs with improved antioxidant and antibacterial properties can be used to treat diseases related to various oxidative stresses and can be applied in many fields, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods.

The Preparation and Biological Testing of Novel Wound Dressings with an Encapsulated Antibacterial and Antioxidant Substance

Chronic wounds represent a significant socio-economic problem, and the improvement of their healing is therefore an essential issue. This paper describes the preparation and biological properties of a novel functionalized nanofiber wound dressing consisting of a polycaprolactone nanofiber carrier modified by a drug delivery system, based on the lipid particles formed by 1-tetradecanol and encapsulated gentamicin and tocopherol acetate. The cytotoxicity of extracts was tested using a metabolic activity assay, and the antibacterial properties of the extracts were tested in vitro on the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The effect of the wound dressing on chronic wound healing was subsequently tested using a mouse model. Fourteen days after surgery, the groups treated by the examined wound cover showed a lower granulation, reepithelization, and inflammation score compared to both the uninfected groups, a lower dermis organization compared to the control, a higher scar thickness compared to the other groups, and a higher thickness of hypodermis and bacteria score compared to both the uninfected groups. This work demonstrates the basic parameters of the safety (biocompatibility) and performance (effect on healing) of the dressing as a medical device and indicates the feasibility of the concept of its preparation in outpatient conditions using a suitable functionalization device.

Recent Development of Conductive Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering: Review and Perspective

In recent years, tissue engineering techniques have been rapidly developed and offer a new therapeutic approach to organ or tissue damage repair. However, most of tissue engineering scaffolds are nonconductive and cannot establish effective electrical coupling with tissue for the electroactive tissues. Electroconductive hydrogels (ECHs) have received increasing attention in tissue engineering owing to their electroconductivity, biocompatibility and high water content. In vitro, ECHs can not only promote the communication of electrical signals between cells, but also mediate the adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of different kinds of cells. In vivo, ECHs can transmit the electric signal to electroactive tissues and activate bioelectrical signaling pathways to promote tissue repair. As a result, implanting ECHs into damaged tissues can effectively reconstruct physiological functions related to electrical conduction. In this review, we first present an overview about the classifications and the fabrication methods of ECHs. And then, the applications of ECHs in tissue engineering, including cardiac, nerve, skin and skeletal muscle tissue, are highlighted. At last, we provide some rational guidelines for designing ECHs towards clinical applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Facile Solvent-Free Preparation of Antioxidant Idebenone-Loaded Nanoparticles for Efficient Wound Healing

The excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes harmful effects, including biomolecular damage and inflammation. ROS due to ultraviolet rays, blue light, and fine dust harm the skin, causing urban-related aging. Therefore, a strong antioxidant that relieves oxidative stress in the skin and removes ROS is required. Idebenone (IB) is a powerful antioxidant but is poorly soluble and thus has low solubility in water, resulting in low bioavailability. In this study, IB-loaded nanoparticles (IB@NPs) were synthesized by loading IB without an organic solvent into nanoparticles that can provide high loading efficiency and stability for solubilization. Indeed, the synthesized IB@NPs exhibited long-term stability through dynamic light scattering, methylene blue staining, and redispersion assays, and IB@NPs prepared with a 5 wt% IB loading content were found to be optimal. The antioxidant activity of IB@NPs evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was significantly higher than that of unloaded IB. In addition, IB@NPs showed excellent biocompatibility, inhibited oxidative damage to mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, and reduced intracellular ROS generation according to an in vitro DPPH antioxidant assay. Most notably, IB@NPs significantly promoted wound healing in vitro, as demonstrated by scratch assays. Therefore, as carriers with excellent stability, IB@NPs have potential cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.