Curcumin-tannic acid-poloxamer nanoassemblies enhance curcumin's uptake and bioactivity against cancer cells in vitro

Lipid- and Polymer-Based Nanocarrier Platforms for Cancer Vaccine Delivery

Cancer immunotherapy has gained popularity in recent years in the search for effective treatment modalities for various malignancies, particularly those that are resistant to conventional chemo- and radiation therapy. Cancer vaccines target the cancer-immunity cycle by boosting the patient's own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells, thus serving as both preventative and curative therapeutic tools. Among the different types of cancer vaccines, those based on nanotechnology have shown great promise in advancing the field of cancer immunotherapy. Lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) have become the most advanced platforms for cancer vaccine delivery, but polymer-based NPs have also received considerable interest. This Review aims to provide an overview of the nanotechnology-enabled cancer vaccine landscape, focusing on recent advances in lipid- and polymer-based nanovaccines and their hybrid structures and discussing the challenges against the clinical translation of these important nanomedicines.

Tannic acid coated nanosuspension for oral delivery of chrysin intended for anti-schizophrenic effect in mice

Chrysin is a flavonoid drug with numerous therapeutic activities. It suffers from low intestinal absorption owing to its hydrophobicity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to exploit the efficient technique of nanosuspension (NSP) to formulate chrysin-NSP coated with tannic acid (TA) to improve the solubility and anti-schizophrenic activity of chrysin. A 23 full factorial design was constructed where the independent factors were type of polymer, surfactant concentration (0.5 or 1 %) and the aqueous phase volume (5 or 15 mL), while the dependent responses were the particle size (PS) of the obtained formulation as well as the % chrysin dissolved after 2 h (Q2h). The optimum formulation (NSP-4) composed of 1 % PEG 400 and 1 % Cremophor RH40 in 15 mL aqueous phase. It achieved a PS and Q2h values of 108.00 nm and 38.77 %, respectively. NSP-4 was then coated with TA (TA-coated NSP-4) for further enhancement of chrysin solubility. TA-coated NSP-4 revealed PS and zeta potential values of 150 ± 14 nm and -32.54 ± 2.45 mV, respectively. After 6 h, chrysin dissolved % were 53.97 and 80.22 for uncoated NSP-4 and TA-coated NSP-4, respectively, compared with only 9.47 for free chrysin. The developed formulations and free chrysin were assessed regarding their effect on schizophrenia induced in mice by cuprizone (CPZ). Treatment with the developed formulations and free chrysin ameliorated demyelination and behavioral deficit induced by CPZ via elevating MBP and PI3K/PKC activities as well as reducing GFAP expression levels. The developed formulations and free chrysin inhibited Galactin-3 and TGF-β expressions and stimulated GST antioxidant enzyme. Furthermore, they maintained the balances in glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission via modulation on neuregulin-1 and alleviated nuclear pyknosis and degeneration in the neurons. The order of activity was: TA-coated NSP-4 > NSP-4 > free chrysin.

Effect of Tannic Acid Concentrations on Temperature-Sensitive Sol-Gel Transition and Stability of Tannic Acid/Pluronic F127 Composite Hydrogels

Recently, interest in polyphenol-containing composite adhesives for various biomedical applications has been growing. Tannic acid (TA) is a polyphenolic compound with advantageous properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Additionally, TA contains multiple hydroxyl groups that exhibit biological activity by forming hydrogen bonds with proteins and biomacromolecules. Furthermore, TA-containing polymer composites exhibit excellent tissue adhesion properties. In this study, the gelation behavior and adhesion forces of TA/Pluronic F127 (TA/PluF) composite hydrogels were investigated by varying the TA and PluF concentrations. PluF (above 16 wt%) alone showed temperature-responsive gelation behavior because of the closely packed micelle aggregates. After the addition of a small amount of TA, the TA/PluF hydrogels showed thermosensitive behavior similar to that of PluF hydrogels. However, the TA/PluF hydrogels containing more than 10 wt% TA completely suppressed the thermo-responsive gelation kinetics of PluF, which may have been due to the hydrogen bonds between TA and PluF. In addition, TA/PluF hydrogels with 40 wt% TA showed excellent tissue adhesion properties and bursting pressure in porcine intestinal tissues. These results are expected to aid in understanding the use of mixtures of TA and thermosensitive block copolymers to fabricate adhesive hydrogels for versatile biomedical applications.

Nanosphere-reinforced polysaccharide self-healing hydrogels for infected wound healing

Bacterial infection remarkably impedes wound healing, with antibiotics traditionally serving as the primary therapeutic intervention. However, the escalating misuse of antibiotics and the emergence of bacterial resistance present substantial treatment challenges for infected wounds. Consequently, the development of antibiotic-free antimicrobial dressings holds pertinent research and clinical relevance. To this end, this study aimed to introduce an all-natural hydrogel dressing, amalgamating polyphenols and polysaccharides, exhibiting pronounced antibacterial and antioxidant properties without relying on antibiotics. First, we constructed curcumin-tannic acid‑zinc ion nanospheres (CTZN) through self-assembly. Our experimental results showed that the nanospheres had excellent biocompatibility, antioxidant, and antimicrobial abilities. Subsequently, we prepared carboxymethylated chitosan/oxidized sodium alginate hydrogels via Schiff base reactions. Incorporation of CTZN into the hydrogel system not only improves the inherent qualities of the hydrogel but also confers multifunctional properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory abilities. In this study, we enhanced the physicochemical properties and biological activity of hydrogels by introducing natural material nanospheres, offering a novel approach that could pave the way for the development of purely natural biomaterial dressings.

Nanoencapsulated Curcumin Mitigates Liver Injury and Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes Induction in Diclofenac-Treated Mice

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural product with known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. The aim of this study was to formulate CUR into a polymeric nanoparticle (NP) formulation and examine its potential hepatoprotective activity in an animal model of diclofenac (DIC)-induced hepatotoxicity. CUR was loaded into polymeric NPs composed of poly(ethylene glycol)-polycaprolactone (PEG-PCL). The optimal CUR NPs were evaluated against DIC-induced hepatotoxicity in mice, by studying the histopathological changes and gene expression of drug-metabolizing cyp450 (cyp2c29 and cyp2d9) and ugt (ugt2b1) genes in the livers of the animals. The optimal NPs were around 67 nm in diameter with more than 80% loading efficiency and sustained release. Histological findings of mice livers revealed that CUR NPs exhibited a superior hepatoprotective effect compared to free CUR, and both groups reduced DIC-mediated liver tissue injury. While treatment with DIC alone or with CUR and CUR NPs had no effect on cyp2c29 gene expression, cyp2d9 and ugt2b1 genes were upregulated in the DIC-treated group, and this effect was reversed by CUR both as a free drug and as CUR NPs. Our findings present a promising application for nanoencapsulated CUR in the treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-induced liver injury and the associated dysregulation in the expression of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Enzymatically crosslinked magnetic starch-grafted poly(tannic acid) hydrogel for "smart" cancer treatment: An in vitro chemo/hyperthermia therapy study

A novel strategy was designed and developed based of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mediated crosslinking of tyramine-functionalized starch (Tyr-St), tannic acid (TA) and phenolated-magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4-PhOH NPs), and simultaneous loading of doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) to afford a pH-responsive magnetic hydrogel-based drug delivery system (DDS) for synergistic in vitro chemo/hyperthermia therapy of human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. The developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 magnetic hydrogel showed porous micro-structure with saturation magnetization (δs) value of 19.2 emu g-1 for Fe3O4 NPs content of ∼7.4 wt%. The pore sizes of the St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 hydrogel was calculated to be 2400 ± 200 nm-2. In vitro drug release experiments exhibited the developed DDS has pH-dependent drug release behavior, while at physiological pH (7.4) released only 30 % of the loaded drug after 100 h. Human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption capacities of the synthesized St/Fe3O4 and St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 magnetic hydrogels were obtained as 86 ± 2.2 and 77 ± 1.9 μgmg-1, respectively. The well-known MTT-assay approved the cytocompatibility of the developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4 hydrogel, while the Dox-loaded system exhibited higher anti-cancer activity than those of the free Dox as verified by MTT-assay, and optical as well as florescent microscopies imaging. The synergistic chemo/hyperthermia therapy effect was also verified for the developed St-g-PTA/Fe3O4-Dox via hot water approach.

A polyglutamic acid/tannic acid-based nano drug delivery system: Antibacterial, immunoregulation and sustained therapeutic strategies for oral ulcers

Oral ulcers are a common inflammatory mucosal ulcer, and the moist and dynamic environment in the oral cavity makes topical pharmacological treatment of oral ulcers challenging. Herein, oral ulcer tissue adhesion nanoparticles were prepared by using esterification reaction between polyglutamic acid and tannic acid, and at the same time doxycycline hydrochloride was loaded into the nanoparticles. The obtained slow drug release effect of the drug-loaded nanoparticles reduced the toxicity of the drug, and by penetrating into the fine crevice region of the wound tissue and adhering to it, they could in-situ release the carried drug more effectively and thus have shown significant antibacterial effects. In addition, tannic acid in the system conferred adhesion, antioxidant and immune regulation activities to the nanocarriers. A rat oral ulcer model based on fluorescent labeling was established to investigate the retention of nanoparticles at the ulcer, and the results showed that the retention rate of drug-loaded nanoparticles at the ulcer was 17 times higher than that of pure drug. Due to the antibacterial and immune regulation effects of the drug-loaded nanoparticles, the healing of oral ulcer wounds was greatly accelerated. Such application of doxycycline hydrochloride loaded polyglutamic acid/tannic acid nanoparticles is a novel and effective treatment strategy for oral ulcer.

Study of the Fe3O4@ZIF-8@Sor Composite Modified by Tannic Acid for the Treatment of Sorafenib-Resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Chemotherapeutic agents fail in clinical chemotherapy in the absence of targeting and acquired resistance. We, therefore, synthesized Fe3O4@ZIF-8@Sor@TA nanocomposite drugs based on the drug delivery properties of nanomaterials. ZIF-8 is a nanomaterial with a porous structure that can load anticancer drugs. The nanodrug used the paramagnetic property of Fe3O4 to deliver sorafenib (Sor) precisely to the tumor site, then used the pH responsiveness of ZIF-8 to slowly release Sor in the tumor microenvironment, and finally used tannic acid (TA) to inhibit P-glycoprotein to suppress the Sor resistance. The results of material characterization presented that the prepared material was structurally stable and was able to achieve a cumulative drug release of 38.2% at pH 5.0 for 72 h. The good biocompatibility of the composite was demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments, which could improve antitumor activity and reduce Sor resistance through magnetic targeting TA. In conclusion, the Fe3O4@ZIF-8@Sor@TA material prepared in this study demonstrated high antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, promising to reduce drug resistance and providing a novel research approach for cancer treatment.

Identifying synergistic combinations of Doxorubicin-Loaded polyquercetin nanoparticles and natural Products: Implications for breast cancer therapy

Combining chemotherapeutic agents with bioactive natural products is an attractive cancer treatment modality to reduce the dose and side effects of chemotherapy. Combination treatments with drugs having different mechanisms of action can also be beneficial in combatting the development of drug resistance by cancer cells. Nanoparticle (NP)-mediated drug delivery can further improve the therapeutic index of cytotoxic agents by enabling passive and/or active targeting to tumor tissues in vivo. Using doxorubicin (DOX) as a model chemotherapeutic agent, we developed three NP formulations based on polyquercetin (pQCT), an emerging nanocarrier platform. The NPs were co-assembled with DOX, pQCT, and either Pluronic P123, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-amine, or D-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS). Physicochemical characterization of the NPs revealed them to have a spherical morphology with high monodispersity, excellent drug loading capacity, and sustained drug release. Then, the NPs were evaluated in vitro to determine their potential synergism when combined with the bioactive natural products curcumin (CUR), tannic acid (TA), and thymoquinone (TQ) against breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Surprisingly, most of the combinations were found to be antagonistic. However, combinations containing CUR exhibited greater pro-apoptotic effects compared to the single agents, with polymer-modified pQCT NPs presenting as a promising nanoplatform for enhancing DOX's ability to promote cancer cell apoptosis. Our findings provide insights into the potential application of pQCT in nanomedicine, as well as the use of bioactive natural products in combination with DOX as a free agent and as an NP formulation in the treatment of breast cancer.

Preparation and Characterization of Capsaicin Encapsulated Polymeric Micelles and Studies of Synergism with Nicotinic Acids as Potential Anticancer Nanomedicines

Background/Objective/Methods

Capsaicin micelles were prepared by the direct dissolution using the amphiphilic copolymer Pluronic P123 and advanced for substantially novel submicro-nanocytotoxicity.

Results

Superior cytotoxicity of capsaicin loaded nanomicelles vs. both the raw capsaicin and reference cisplatin in pancreatic PANC1, breast MCF7, colorectal resistant CACO2, skin A375, lung A549 and prostate PC3 cancer cell lines were delineated. Nicotinic acid (NA) derivative 39 (2-Amino IsoNA) had antiinflammatory potential but consistently lacked antiproliferation in MCF7, PANC1 and CACO2. Besides NA derivatives 8 (5-MethylNA) and 44 (6-AminoNA) exhibited lack of antiinflammation but had comparable antitumorigenesis potency to cisplatin in PANC1 cells. Though capsaicin loaded nanomicelles exerted pronounced antiinflammation (with IC50 value of 510 nM vs. Indomethacin's) in lipopolysacchride-induced inflammation of RAW247.6 macrophages; they lacked DPPH scavenging propensities. Free capsaicin proved more efficacious vs. its loaded nanocarriers to chemosensitize cytotoxicity of combinations with NAs 1(6-Hexyloxy Nicotinic Acid), 5(6-OctyloxyNA), 8(5-MethylNA), 12(6-Thien-2yl-NA), 13(5,6-DichloroNA) and 44(6-AminoNA) in CACO2, PANC1 and prostate PC3.

Conclusion

Capsaicin loaded nanomicelles proved more efficacious vs. free capsaicin to chemo-sensitize antiproliferation of cotreatments with NA derivatives, 1, 5, 8, 12, 13 and 44 (in skin A375), 1, 5, 8 and 12 (in breast MCF7), and 1, 5, 12 and 44 (in lung A549).

Interdisciplinary advances reshape the delivery tools for effective NASH treatment

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe systemic and inflammatory subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, eventually develops into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma with few options for effective treatment. Currently potent small molecules identified in preclinical studies are confronted with adverse effects and long-term ineffectiveness in clinical trials. Nevertheless, highly specific delivery tools designed from interdisciplinary concepts may address the significant challenges by either effectively increasing the concentrations of drugs in target cell types, or selectively manipulating the gene expression in liver to resolve NASH.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

We focus on dissecting the detailed principles of the latest interdisciplinary advances and concepts that direct the design of future delivery tools to enhance the efficacy. Recent advances have indicated that cell and organelle-specific vehicles, non-coding RNA research (e.g. saRNA, hybrid miRNA) improve the specificity, while small extracellular vesicles and coacervates increase the cellular uptake of therapeutics. Moreover, strategies based on interdisciplinary advances drastically elevate drug loading capacity and delivery efficiency and ameliorate NASH and other liver diseases.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The latest concepts and advances in chemistry, biochemistry and machine learning technology provide the framework and strategies for the design of more effective tools to treat NASH, other pivotal liver diseases and metabolic disorders.

Biological functions and molecular interactions of Wnt/β-catenin in breast cancer: Revisiting signaling networks

Changes in lifestyle such as physical activity and eating habits have been one of the main reasons for development of various diseases in modern world, especially cancer. However, role of genetic factors in initiation of cancer cannot be ignored and Wnt/β-catenin signaling is such factor that can affect tumor progression. Breast tumor is the most malignant tumor in females and it causes high mortality and morbidity around the world. The survival and prognosis of patients are not still desirable, although there have been advances in introducing new kinds of therapies and diagnosis. The present review provides an update of Wnt/β-catenin function in breast cancer malignancy. The upregulation of Wnt is commonly observed during progression of breast tumor and confirms that tumor cells are dependent on this pathway Wnt/β-catenin induction prevents apoptosis that is of importance for mediating drug resistance. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin signaling induces DNA damage repair in ameliorating radio-resistance. Wnt/β-catenin enhances proliferation and metastasis of breast tumor. Wnt/β-catenin induces EMT and elevates MMP expression. Furthermore, Wnt/β-catenin participates in tumor microenvironment remodeling and due to its tumor-promoting factor, drugs for its suppression have been developed. Different kinds of upstream mediators Wnt/β-catenin signaling in breast cancer have been recognized that their targeting is a therapeutic approach. Finally, Wnt/β-catenin can be considered as a biomarker in clinical trials.

Amphotericin B-Loaded Plant-Inspired Polyphenol Nanoparticles Enhance Its Antifungal Activity and Biocompatibility

Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the first-line treatments for systemic fungal infections, yet it suffers from dose-limiting systemic toxicity and high cost of less toxic lipid-based formulations. Here, we report on a facile approach to synthesize an AmB-loaded nanomedicine by leveraging plant-inspired oxidative self-polymerization of the ubiquitous polyphenol quercetin (QCT). Polymerized QCT nanoparticles (pQCT NPs) were formed, loaded with AmB, and functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to impart steric stability in a simple procedure that relied on mixing followed by dialysis. The AmB-loaded NPs (AmB@pQCT-PEG NPs) were characterized by a drug loading efficiency of more than 90%, a particle size of around 160 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.07, and a partially negative surface charge. AmB release from the NPs was sustained over several days and followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with a release exponent (n) value >0.85, denoting drug release by polymer relaxation and swelling. A hemolysis assay revealed the NPs to be highly biocompatible, with negligible hemolytic activity and 30-60% hemolysis after 1 and 24 h of incubation with erythrocytes, respectively, across a wide concentration range (6.25-100.00 μg/mL). Conversely, equivalent concentrations of free AmB caused 90-100% hemolysis within the same timeframe. Importantly, AmB@pQCT-PEG NPs outperformed free AmB in microbial susceptibility assays on Candida albicans, achieving a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62.5 ng/mL after 48 h of incubation, which was 2-fold lower than the free drug. Our results demonstrate that pQCT NPs may serve as a viable AmB delivery platform for the treatment of fungal infections and potentially other AmB-susceptible pathogens.

Vitamin E TPGS-Poloxamer Nanoparticles Entrapping a Novel PI3Kα Inhibitor Potentiate Its Activity against Breast Cancer Cell Lines

N-(2-fluorphenyl)-6-chloro-4-hydroxy-2-quinolone-3-carboxamide (R19) is a newly synthesized phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) inhibitor with promising activity against cancer cells. The purpose of this study was to develop a polymeric nanoparticle (NP) formulation for R19 to address its poor aqueous solubility and to facilitate its future administration in preclinical and clinical settings. NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation using two polymers: D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (vitamin E TPGS) and the poloxamer Pluronic P123 in different ratios. Physicochemical characterization of the NPs revealed them to be around 100 nm in size with high monodispersity, a spherical morphology, and an almost neutral surface charge. The NPs achieved ~60% drug loading efficiency and sustained release of R19 for up to 96 h, with excellent colloidal stability in serum-containing cell culture media. NPs containing TPGS enhanced R19's potency against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) ranging between 1.8 and 4.3 µM compared to free R19, which had an IC₅₀ of 14.7-17.0 µM. The NPs also demonstrated low cytotoxicity against human dermal fibroblasts and more significant induction of apoptosis compared to the free drug, which was correlated with their cellular uptake efficiency. Our findings present a biocompatible NP formulation for the delivery of a cancer-targeted PI3Kα inhibitor, R19, which can further enhance its potency for the treatment of breast cancer and potentially other cancer types.

Pharmacological effects and mechanisms of tannic acid

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological efficacy of tannins. Tannic acid (TA), the simplest hydrolysable tannin that has been approved by the FDA as a safe food additive, is one of the most important components of these traditional medicines. Studies have shown that TA displays a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antitumor, cardioprotective, and anti-pathogenic effects. Here, we summarize the known pharmacological effects and associated mechanisms of TA. We focus on the effect and mechanism of TA in various animal models of inflammatory disease and organ, brain, and cardiovascular injury. Moreover, we discuss the possible molecular targets and signaling pathways of TA, in addition to the pharmacological effects of TA-based nanoparticles and TA in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel MAO-A Inhibitors Targeting Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Monoamine Oxidase-A (MAO-A) enzyme mediates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger DNA damage and oxidative injury of cells resulting in tumor initiation and progression. Available MAO-A inhibitors are used as antidepressants, however, their role as anticancer agents is still under investigation. Ligand- and structure-based drug design approaches guided the discovery and development of novel MAO-A inhibitors. A series of 1H indole-2-carboxamide derivatives was prepared and characterized using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and IR. The antiproliferative effects of MAO-A inhibitors were evaluated using the cell viability assay (MTT), and MAO-A activity was evaluated using MAO-A activity assay. The presumed inhibitors significantly inhibited the growth of lung cell lines in a dose- and time dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of MAO-A inhibitors (S1, S2, S4, S7, and S10) were 33.37, 146.1, 208.99, 307.7, and 147.2 µM, respectively, in A549. Glide docking against MAO-A showed that the derivatives accommodate MAO-A binding cleft and engage with key binding residues. MAO-A inhibitors provide significant and consistent evidence on MAO-A activity in lung cancer and present a potential target for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents.

Tannic Acid Coating Augments Glioblastoma Cellular Uptake of Magnetic Nanoparticles with Antioxidant Effects

Coating of nanoparticles with gallates renders them antioxidant and enhances cellular internalization. In this study, (amino)silica magnetic particles modified with tannic acid (TA) and optionally with chitosan (CS) were developed, and their physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the TA-modified aminosilica-coated particles, as well as the silica-coated particles with a double TA layer, exhibited high antioxidant activity, whereas the silica-coated particles with no or only a single TA layer were well-internalized by LN-229 cells. In addition, a magnet placed under the culture plates greatly increased the cellular uptake of all TA-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The coating thus had a considerable impact on nanoparticle–cell interactions and particle internalization. The TA-coated magnetic nanoparticles have great potential as intracellular carriers with preserved antioxidant activity.

Localized delivery of curcumin by thermosensitive hydrogels for promoting wound healing

BACKGROUND

Curcumin can promote wound healing, but its drug delivery medium needs to be improved further.

OBJECTIVES

A curcumin-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel was prepared, its characterization was evaluated, and its promoting effect on wound healing was observed.

METHODS

Curcumin-loaded thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared with different percentages of poloxamer 188 and poloxamer 407. A small tube inversion assay was used to observe the sol-gel transition temperature, and a rotational rheometer was used to detect the sol viscosity, sol-gel phase transition temperature and phase transition time. The microstructure of the gel was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier infrared spectroscopy was used to evaluate whether curcumin was successfully loaded. Finally, its promoting effect on wound healing was observed in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

Poloxamer 407 24% and poloxamer 188 1% were selected to prepare curcumin-loaded thermosensitive hydrogels. After 60 ± 15 s at 32 °C, the sol-gel transition process was completed, with certain elastic behavior and solid-like rheological properties. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the pores of the curcumin-P407/P188 thermosensitive hydrogel were interconnected, with an average pore size ranging from 5 to 10 μm. Hydrogels showed a higher swelling ratio. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that curcumin had been incorporated into the hydrogel. Live/dead cell assays suggested that the hydrogel was not toxic to fibroblasts. Curcumin-loaded thermosensitive hydrogels can promote an increase in S-phase fibroblasts and improve wound healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Curcumin-loaded P407/P188 thermosensitive hydrogel improves wound healing. More in-depth research is needed in the future.

Evaluation and Characterization of Curcumin-β-Cyclodextrin and Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponge Inclusion Complexation

Cyclodextrin polymers and cyclodextrin-based nanosponges have been widely investigated for increasing drug bioavailability. This study examined curcumin's complexation stability and solubilization with β-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponge. Nanosponges were prepared through the cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin with different molar ratios of diphenyl carbonate. Phase solubility experiments were conducted to evaluate the formed complexes and evaluate the potential of using β-cyclodextrin and nanosponge in pharmaceutical formulations. Furthermore, physicochemical characterizations of the prepared complexes included PXRD, FTIR, NMR, and DSC. In addition, in vitro release studies were performed for the prepared formulations. The formation of β-cyclodextrin complexes enhanced curcumin solubility up to 2.34-fold compared to the inherent solubility, compared to a 2.95-fold increment in curcumin solubility when loaded in β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges. Interestingly, the stability constant for curcumin nanosponges was (4972.90 M^-1), which was ten times higher than that for the β-cyclodextrin complex, where the value was 487.34 M^-1. The study results indicated a decrease in the complexation efficiency and solubilization effect with the increased cross-linker amount. This study's findings showed the potential of using cyclodextrin-based nanosponge and the importance of studying the effect of cross-linking density for the preparation of β-cyclodextrin-based nanosponges to be used for pharmaceutical formulations.