Innovative strategies to treat skin wounds with mangiferin: fabrication of transfersomes modified with glycols and mucin

Beclomethasone loaded liposomes enriched with mucin: A suitable approach for the control of skin disorders

Inflammatory skin disorders are the fourth leading cause of chronic non-fatal conditions, which have a serious impact on the patient quality of life. Due to their treatment with conventional corticosteroids, which often result in poor therapeutic efficacy, relapses and systemic side effects from prolonged therapy, these diseases represent a global burden that negatively impacts the global economy. To avoid these problems and optimize corticosteroid benefits, beclomethasone was loaded into liposome formulations specifically tailored for skin delivery. These formulations were enhanced with mucin (0.1 and 0.5 % w/v) to further ensure prolonged formulation permanence at the site of application. The addition of 0.5 % w/v mucin resulted in the formation of small unilamellar vesicles and multicompartment vesicles. Liposomes and 1mucin-liposomes were smaller (∼48 and ∼61 nm, respectively) and more monodispersed (PI ∼ 0.14 and ∼ 0.17, respectively) than 5mucin-liposomes, which were larger (∼137 nm), slightly polydispersed (PI ∼ 0.23), and less stable during storage (4 months in the dark at 25 °C). Liposomes were negatively charged (∼ -79 mV) irrespective of their composition, and capable of incorporating high amount of beclomethasone (∼ 80 %). In vitro studies on skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes confirmed the high biocompatibility of all formulations (viability ≥ 95 %). However, the use of mucin-liposomes resulted in higher efficacy against nitric oxide production and free radical damage. Finally, topical applications using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-injured skin in vivo experiments showed that only the mucin-enriched formulations could restore healthy conditions within 4 days, underscoring promise as a treatment for skin disorders.

Therapeutic Potential of Nanocarrier Mediated Delivery of Peptides for Wound Healing: Current Status, Challenges and Future Prospective

Wound healing presents a complex physiological process that involves a sequence of events orchestrated by various cellular and molecular mechanisms. In recent years, there has been growing interest in leveraging nanomaterials and peptides to enhance wound healing outcomes. Nanocarriers offer unique properties such as high surface area-to-volume ratio, tunable physicochemical characteristics, and the ability to deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled manner. Similarly, peptides, with their diverse biological activities and low immunogenicity, hold great promise as therapeutics in wound healing applications. In this review, authors explore the potential of peptides as bioactive components in wound healing formulations, focusing on their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative properties. Despite the significant progress made in this field, several challenges remain, including the need for standardized characterization methods, optimization of biocompatibility and safety profiles, and translation from bench to bedside. Furthermore, developing multifunctional nanomaterial-peptide hybrid systems represents promising avenues for future research. Overall, the integration of nanomaterials made up of natural or synthetic polymers with peptide-based formulations holds tremendous therapeutic potential in advancing the field of wound healing and improving clinical outcomes for patients with acute and chronic wounds.

Mangiferin, a Potential Supplement to Improve Metabolic Syndrome: Current Status and Future Opportunities

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a considerable clinical and public health burden worldwide. Mangiferin (MF), a flavonoid compound present in diverse species such as mango (Mangifera indica L.), papaya (Pseudocydonia sinensis (Thouin) C. K. Schneid.), zhimu (Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge), and honeybush tea (Cyclopia genistoides), boasts a broad array of pharmacological effects. It holds promising uses in nutritionally and functionally targeted foods, particularly concerning MetS treatment. It is therefore pivotal to systematically investigate MF's therapeutic mechanism for MetS and its applications in food and pharmaceutical sectors. This review, with the aid of a network pharmacology approach complemented by this experimental studies, unravels possible mechanisms underlying MF's MetS treatment. Network pharmacology results suggest that MF treats MetS effectively through promoting insulin secretion, targeting obesity and inflammation, alleviating insulin resistance (IR), and mainly operating via the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-[Formula: see text]B), microtubule-associated protein kinase (MAPK), and oxidative stress signaling pathways while repairing damaged insulin signaling. These insights provide a comprehensive framework to understand MF's potential mechanisms in treating MetS. These, however, warrant further experimental validation. Moreover, molecular docking techniques confirmed the plausibility of the predicted outcomes. Hereafter, these findings might form the theoretical bedrock for prospective research into MF's therapeutic potential in MetS therapy.

Nano-delivery Systems and Therapeutic Applications of Phytodrug Mangiferin

In order to cure a range of ailments, scientists have investigated a number of bioactive antioxidant compounds produced from natural sources. Mangiferin, a C-glycosyl xanthone-structured yellow polyphenol, is abundant in mangoes and other dietary sources. In-depth examinations found that it is effective in the treatment of a variety of disorders due to its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antigenotoxic, antiatherogenic, radioprotective, nephroprotective, antihyperlipidemic, and antidiabetic properties. However, it is recognised that mangiferin's poor bioavailability, volatility, and limited solubility restrict its therapeutic usefulness. Over time, effective solutions to these problems have arisen in the shape of effective delivery methods. The current articles present a summary of the several researches that have updated Mangiferin's biopharmaceutical characteristics. Additionally, strategies for enhancing the bioavailability, stability, and solubility of this phytodrug have been discussed. This review provides detailed information on the development of innovative Mangiferin delivery methods such as nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, niosomes, microspheres, metal nanoparticles, and complexation, as well as its therapeutic applications in a variety of sectors. This article provides effective guidance for researchers who desire to work on the formulation and development of an effective delivery method for improved magniferin therapeutic effectiveness.

Hesperidin-loaded cubogel as a novel therapeutic armamentarium for full-thickness wound healing

Wounds are a physical manifestation of injury to the skin causing it to rupture or tear. The process of wound healing naturally restores skin integrity while minimizing the extent of the damage. Hesperidin (HPN) is a natural polyphenolic flavonoid and is effective in treating wounds due to its ability to reduce inflammation and stimulate angiogenesis. However, its use is limited by its poor physicochemical attributes such as poor solubility in water. Recently, nanoparticles, particularly Cubosomes, are found to be promising candidates for advancing wound-healing therapies, owing to their unique properties. The present study was conducted to develop a hydrogel system based on Cubosomes encapsulating HPN (HPN-Cubogel), with the potential to mitigate full-thickness wounds. The therapeutic efficacy of the formulation assessed in the animal model showed that the HPN-Cubogel formulation group exhibited a wound closure rate of 98.96 ± 1.50% after 14 days post-wounding compared to 89.12 ± 2.6% in the control group suggesting superior wound contraction activity. Collagen synthesis was superior in the formulation compared to the control group, as determined through MT staining. In summary, the HPN-Cubogel formulation was found to be the most effective in enhancing full-thickness wound healing.

Pharmacological properties of mangiferin: bioavailability, mechanisms of action and clinical perspectives

This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the pharmacological properties of mangiferin, focusing primarily on its bioavailability and mechanisms of action, and its potential therapeutic applications, especially in the context of chronic diseases. We conducted a comprehensive examination of in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials involving mangiferin or plant extracts containing mangiferin. The primary source of mangiferin is Mangifera indica, but it's also found in other plant species from the families Anacardiaceae, Gentianaceae, and Iridaceae. Mangiferin has exhibited a myriad of therapeutic properties, presenting itself as a promising candidate for treating various chronic conditions including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, renal and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Despite the promising results showcased in many in vitro studies and certain animal studies, the application of mangiferin has been limited due to its poor solubility, absorption, and overall bioavailability. Mangiferin offers significant therapeutic potential in treating a spectrum of chronic diseases, as evidenced by both in vitro and clinical trials. However, the challenges concerning its bioavailability necessitate further research, particularly in optimizing its delivery and absorption, to harness its full medicinal potential. This review serves as a comprehensive update on the health-promoting and therapeutic activities of mangiferin.

Transferosomes as a transdermal drug delivery system: Dermal kinetics and recent developments

The development of innovative approaches to deliver medications has been growing now for the last few decades and generates a growing interest in the dermatopharmaceutical field. Transdermal drug delivery in particular, remains an attractive alternative route for many therapeutics. However, due to the limitations posed by the barrier properties of the stratum corneum, the delivery of many pharmaceutical dosage forms remains a challenge. Most successful therapies using the transdermal route have been ones containing smaller lipophilic molecules with molecular weights of a few hundred Daltons. To overcome these limitations of size and lipophilicity of the drugs, transferosomes have emerged as a successful tool for transdermal delivery of a variety of therapeutics including hydrophilic actives, larger molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. Transferosomes exhibit a flexible structure and higher surface hydrophilicity which both play a critical role in the transport of drugs and other solutes using hydration gradients as a driving force to deliver the molecules into and across the skin. This results in enhanced overall permeation as well as controlled release of the drug in the skin layers. Additionally, the physical-chemical properties of the transferosomes provide increased stability by preventing degradation of the actives by oxidation, light, and temperature. Here, we present the history of transferosomes from solid lipid nanoparticles and liposomes, their physical-chemical properties, dermal kinetics, and their recent advances as marketed dosage forms. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.

Potential of electro-sprayed purified mangiferin nanoparticles for anti-aging cosmetic applications

The fabrication of mangiferin nanoparticles using an electrospraying technique is a new and promising method for developing nanoparticles with higher efficiency and safety. This study aimed to fabricate mangiferin nanoparticles (MNPs) using cellulose acetate (CA) as a polymer at various parameters using electrospraying. Commercial mangiferin (CM) was purified from 88.46 to 95.71% by a recrystallization method to improve its purity and biological activities and remove any residue. The properties of recrystallized mangiferin (RM) were characterized using DSC, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and HPLC. Then its biological activity and proteomics were determined. Proteomics analysis of RM showed that up-regulated proteins were involved in more biological processes than CM. MNPs were fabricated by varying the electrospraying parameters including voltage, the distance between the needle-tip-collector and flow rate. Skin permeation, release and irritation were also evaluated. The results revealed that the average particle size of the MNPs ranged between 295.47 ± 5.58 and 448.87 ± 3.00 nm, and had a smooth spherical morphology in SEM images. The MNPs also showed good potential in antioxidant and anti-aging properties. The encapsulation efficiency of MNPs was determined to be 85.31%. From skin permeation studies of CM, RM, and MNPs, the mangiferin content was found in the stratum corneum and dermis skin layers. Moreover, the MNPs solution had 23.68 ± 0.27% and 11.98 ± 0.13% of mangiferin in the stratum corneum and viable epidermis and dermis, respectively. Additionally, the irritation test by HET-CAM was mild and safe. Therefore, MNPs produced by electrospraying are a promising delivery system for cosmetic/cosmeceutical applications.

An Overview of Recent Developments in the Management of Burn Injuries

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 11 million people suffer from burns every year, and 180,000 die from them. A burn is a condition in which heat, chemical substances, an electrical current or other factors cause tissue damage. Burns mainly affect the skin, but can also affect deeper tissues such as bones or muscles. When burned, the skin loses its main functions, such as protection from the external environment, pathogens, evaporation and heat loss. Depending on the stage of the burn, the patient's condition and the cause of the burn, we need to choose the most appropriate treatment. Personalization and multidisciplinary collaboration are key to the successful management of burn patients. In this comprehensive review, we have collected and discussed the available treatment options, focusing on recent advances in topical treatments, wound cleansing, dressings, skin grafting, nutrition, pain and scar tissue management.

Plant exosome nanovesicles (PENs): green delivery platforms

Natural plants have been attracting increasing attention in biomedical research due to their numerous benefits. Plant exosome-derived vesicles, some of the plant's components, are small nanoscale vesicles secreted by plant cells. These vesicles are rich in bioactive substances and play significant roles in intercellular communication, information transfer, and maintaining homeostasis in organisms. They also hold promise for treating diseases, and their vesicular structures make them suitable carriers for drug delivery, with large-scale production feasible. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of nanovesicles from different plant sources and their extraction methods. We also outline the biological activities of nanovesicles, including their anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor properties, and systematically introduce their applications in drug delivery. These applications include transdermal delivery, targeted drug delivery, gene delivery, and their potential use in the modern food industry. This review provides new ideas and methods for future research on plant exosomes, including their empowerment by artificial intelligence and gene editing, as well as their potential application in the biomedicine, food, and agriculture industries.

Nanocrystals of Mangiferin Using Design Expert: Preparation, Characterization, and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation

Making nanoscale drug carriers could boost the bioavailability of medications that are slightly water soluble. One of the most promising approaches for enhancing the chemical stability and bioavailability of a variety of therapeutic medicines is liquid nanocrystal technology. This study aimed to prepare nanocrystals of mangiferin for sustained drug delivery and enhance the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The fractional factorial design (FFD) was used via a selection of independent and dependent variables. The selected factors were the concentration of mangiferin (A), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) (B), pluronic acid (C), tween 80 (D), and the ratio of antisolvent to solvent (E). The selected responses were the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The nanocrystals were further evaluated for mangiferin release, release kinetics, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stability studies of developed nanocrystals were performed for 6 months and pharmacokinetics on albino rabbits. The value of entrapment efficiencies ranged from 23.98% to 86.23%. The percentage release of mangiferin varied from 62.45 to 99.02%. FTIR and DSC studies showed the stability of mangiferin in the nanocrystals. The particle size of the optimized formulation was almost 100 nm and -12 mV the value of the zeta potential. The results of stability studies showed that the nanocrystals of mangiferin were stable for a period of six months. The peak plasma concentration of mangiferin from nanocrystals and suspension of mangiferin were 412 and 367 ng/mL, respectively. The value of AUC0-t of nanocrystals and suspension of mangiferin was 23,567.45 ± 10.876 and 18,976.12 ± 9.765 µg×h/mL, respectively, indicating that the nanocrystals of mangiferin showed greater availability of mangiferin compared to the suspension of the formulation. The developed nanocrystals showed a good release pattern of mangiferin, better stability studies, and enhanced the pharmacokinetics of the drug.

Argon Plasma Jet-Treated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan and PEG 400 Plus Mangifera indica Leaf Extract for Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes: In Vitro Study

The wound-healing process can be disrupted at any stage due to various internal and external factors. The inflammatory stage of the process plays a vital role in determining the outcome of the wound. Prolonged inflammation due to bacterial infection can lead to tissue damage, slow healing, and complications. Wound dressings made using materials such as poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan (CS), and poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) with Mangifera extract (ME) added can help reduce infection and inflammation, creating a conducive environment for faster healing. However, creating the electrospun membrane is challenging due to balancing various forces such as rheological behavior, conductivity, and surface tension. To improve the electrospinnability of the polymer solution, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet can induce chemistry in the solution and increase the polarity of the solvent. Thus, this research aims to investigate the effect of plasma treatment on PVA, CS, and PEG polymer solutions and fabricate ME wound dressing via electrospinning. The results indicated that increasing plasma treatment time increased the viscosity of the polymer solution, from 269 mPa∙to 331 mPa∙s after 60 min, and led to an increase in conductivity from 298 mS/cm to 330 mS/cm and an increase in nanofiber diameter from 90 ± 40 nm to 109 ± 49 nm. Incorporating 1% mangiferin extract into an electrospun nanofiber membrane has been found to increase the inhibition rates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by 29.2% and 61.2%, respectively. Additionally, the fiber diameter decreases when compared with the electrospun nanofiber membrane without ME. Our findings demonstrate that electrospun nanofiber membrane with ME has anti-infective properties and can promote faster wound healing.

Photoprotection and Antiaging Activity of Extracts from Honeybush (Cyclopia sp.)-In Vitro Wound Healing and Inhibition of the Skin Extracellular Matrix Enzymes: Tyrosinase, Collagenase, Elastase and Hyaluronidase

Cyclopia sp. (honeybush) is an African shrub known as a rich source of polyphenols. The biological effects of fermented honeybush extracts were investigated. The influence of honeybush extracts on extracellular matrix (ECM) enzymes responsible for the skin malfunction and aging process-collagenase, elastase, tyrosinase and hyaluronidase-was analysed. The research also included assessment of the in vitro photoprotection efficiency of honeybush extracts and their contribution to the wound healing process. Antioxidant properties of the prepared extracts were evaluated, and quantification of the main compounds in the extracts was achieved. The research showed that the analysed extracts had a significant ability to inhibit collagenase, tyrosinase and hyaluronidase and a weak influence on elastase activity. Tyrosinase was inhibited effectively by honeybush acetone (IC₅₀ 26.18 ± 1.45 µg/mL), ethanol (IC₅₀ 45.99 ± 0.76 µg/mL) and water (IC₅₀ 67.42 ± 1.75 µg/mL) extracts. Significant hyaluronidase inhibition was observed for ethanol, acetone and water extracts (IC₅₀ were 10.99 ± 1.56, 13.21 ± 0.39 and 14.62 ± 0.21µg/mL, respectively). Collagenase activity was inhibited effectively by honeybush acetone extract (IC₅₀ 42.5 ± 1.05 μg/mL). The wound healing properties of the honeybush extracts, estimated in vitro in human keratinocytes (HaCaTs), were indicated for water and ethanol extracts. In vitro sun protection factor (SPF in vitro) showed medium photoprotection potential for all the honeybush extracts. The quantity of polyphenolic compounds was estimated with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), indicating the highest mangiferin contents in ethanol, acetone and n-butanol extracts, while in the water extract hesperidin was the dominant compound. The antioxidant properties of the honeybush extracts were estimated with FRAP (2,4,6-Tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) tests, indicating their strong antioxidant activity, similar to ascorbic acid for the acetone extract in both tests. The wound healing abilities, estimation of SPF in vitro and the direct influence on selected enzymes (elastase, tyrosinase, collagenase and hyaluronidase) of the tested honeybush extracts were analysed for the first time, indicating a high potential of these well-known herbal tea for antiaging, anti-inflammation, regeneration and protection of the skin.

Phospholipid-Based Topical Nano-Hydrogel of Mangiferin: Enhanced Topical Delivery and Improved Dermatokinetics

Mangiferin is a herbal drug that has proven anticancer potential. Owing to its lower aqueous solubility and poor oral bioavailability, the full pharmacological potential of this bioactive drug has not fully been explored. In the present study, phospholipid-based microemulsion systems were developed to bypass oral delivery. The globule size of the developed nanocarriers was less than 150 nm and the drug entrapment was >75% with a drug loading ~25%. The developed system offered a controlled release pattern following the Fickian drug release. This enhanced mangiferin's in vitro anticancer activity by four-fold, the cellular uptake was observed to be improved by three-fold on the MCF-7 cells. Ex vivo dermatokinetic studies showed substantial topical bioavailability with a prolonged residence time. The findings provide a simple technique to administer mangiferin via a topical route promising a safer, topically bioavailable and effective treatment option for breast cancer. Such scalable carriers with immense topical delivery potential may provide a better option for present-day topical products of a conventional nature.

New Vehiculation Systems of Mometasone Furoate for the Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases

A pre-formulation study was carried out to obtain liposomal formulations of mometasone furoate as an alternative system to marketed forms of corticosteroid for the treatment of inflammatory skin lesions. Mometasone furoate was loaded in glycerosomes and glyceroethosomes, which were also modified with hyaluronic acid (glyceroethohyalurosomes). Vesicles were designed, elaborated, and characterized, and their biocompatibility, efficacy against oxidative stress and skin lesions were assessed in vitro, in human epidermal cells, and in vivo, in a mouse skin epidermal hyperplasia model. All formulations tested showed great encapsulation efficiency, nanometric size, formed monodispersed systems and a highly negative Z potential. Similar values were obtained over nine months storage at 4 °C, which indicates the great stability of the three types of nanoliposomes at least during the time tested. Among them, 0.1% mometasone furoate glyceroethohyalurosomes were the best formulation to protect cells against oxidative stress and their anti-inflammatory efficacy was confirmed in vivo, being even more effective than the marketed form (Elocom^®), as the reduction in the inflammation was even ~15% higher than that achieved with the commercial cream. Selected formulations could be potential candidates as new vehiculation systems for mometasone furoate. The presence of hyaluronic acid in glyceroethohyalurosomes makes them the best candidates in preventing/treating skin inflammatory lesions.

IL1β/ TNFα/COX-2/VEGF axis responsible for effective healing potential of C-glucoside xanthone (mangiferin) based ointment in immunocompromised rats

Present study was conducted to undermine the wound healing potential of mangiferin vis a vis its molecular dynamics in immunocompromised excisional rat model. 120 rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups viz. group I (Healthy control), group II (Immunocompromised control), group III (Immunocompromised group treated with silver sulphadiazine), group IV (Immunocompromised group treated with 2.5 %Mangiferin) and group V (Immunocompromised group treated with 5 %Mangiferin). Immuno compromised state was achieved following intramuscular injection of Hydrocortisone @ 80 mg/kg body weight. Study was conducted for a period of 28 days. Six animals from each group were humanely sacrificed at weekly interval till day 28th of study. Planimetric analysis, biochemical studies viz. hydroxyproline assay, total protein and DNA content, antioxidative potential through LPO assay was done along with molecular studies involving expression profiling of IL1β, TNFα and COX-2 and Immunohistochemistry of angiogenic marker i.e. VEGF was performed to undermine the pharmacodynamics of mangiferin. Histopathological studies including H&E and Masson's Trichome was also performed to study histoarchitectural changes in wound healing and reparative process following application of mangiferin ointment. Study revealed significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in wound area measurement and significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in wound contraction (%) following mangiferin administration in immunocompromised rats. Hydroxyproline, DNA and total protein showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in skin tissues of mangiferin treated immunocompromised rats. LPO assay revealed significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in mangiferin treated animals. Histopathological studies of skin tissues revealed complete restoration advocating grade III of healing in 2.5% mangiferin treated group. Higher expression and strong signal intensity of VEGF was noticed in 2.5% mangiferin treatment group along with significant (P ≤ 0.05) upregulation IL1β and TNFα on day 7 in 2.5% mangiferin treatment group with significant (P ≤ 0.05) down regulation of COX-2 in mangiferin treatment group as compared to other groups i.e. group II and III. It is concluded from our study that mangiferin facilitates wound healing through improved wound closure, organized deposition of collagen deposition and granulation matrix formation.

A Narrative Review of the Potential Roles of Lipid-Based Vesicles (Vesiculosomes) in Burn Management

Burn injuries can have a lasting effect on people’s quality of life, as they negatively impact their physical and mental health. Then, they are likely to suffer psychological problems as a result. A serious problem is that deep burns are more challenging to treat due to their slow healing rate and susceptibility to microbial infection. Conventional topical medications used for burn treatment are sometimes ineffective because they cannot optimize their ability of transcutaneous absorption at the targeted site and accelerate healing. However, nanotechnology offers excellent prospects for developing current medical wound therapies and is capable of addressing issues such as low drug stability, water solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. The current review focuses on lipid-based vesicles (vesiculosomes) as an example of advanced delivery systems, showing their potential clinical applications in burn wound management. Vesiculosomes may help overcome impediments including the low bioavailability of active agents, offering the controlled release of drugs, increased drug stability, fewer side effects, and reduced dosing frequency, which will ultimately improve therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. We discuss the application of various types of vesiculosomes such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, cubosomes, transfersomes, and phytosomes in burn healing therapy, as these demonstrate superior skin penetration compared to conventional burn topical treatment. We also highlight their noteworthy uses in the formulation of natural products and discuss the current status as well as future perspectives of these carriers in burn management. Furthermore, the burn treatment options currently available in the market are also summarized.

Vesicular Nanocarriers for Phytocompounds in Wound Care: Preparation and Characterization

The need to develop wound healing preparations is a pressing challenge given the limitations of the current treatment and the rising prevalence of impaired healing wounds. Although herbal extracts have been used for many years to treat skin disorders, due to their wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects, their efficacy can be questionable because of their poor bioavailability and stability issues. Nanotechnology offers an opportunity to revolutionize wound healing therapies by including herbal compounds in nanosystems. Particularly, vesicular nanosystems exhibit beneficial properties, such as biocompatibility, targeted and sustained delivery capacity, and increased phytocompounds’ bioavailability and protection, conferring them a great potential for future applications in wound care. This review summarizes the beneficial effects of phytocompounds in wound healing and emphasizes the advantages of their entrapment in vesicular nanosystems. Different types of lipid nanocarriers are presented (liposomes, niosomes, transferosomes, ethosomes, cubosomes, and their derivates’ systems), highlighting their applications as carriers for phytocompounds in wound care, with the presentation of the state-of-art in this field. The methods of preparation, characterization, and evaluation are also described, underlining the properties that ensure good in vitro and in vivo performance. Finally, future directions of topical systems in which vesicle-bearing herbal extracts or phytocompounds can be incorporated are pointed out, as their development is emerging as a promising strategy.

Nanoliposomes in Cancer Therapy: Marketed Products and Current Clinical Trials

The drugs used for cancer treatment have many drawbacks, as they damage both tumor and healthy cells and, in addition, they tend to be poorly soluble drugs. Their transport in nanoparticles can solve these problems as these can release the drug into tumor tissues, as well as improve their solubility, bioavailability, and efficacy, reducing their adverse effects. This article focuses on the advantages that nanotechnology can bring to medicine, with special emphasis on nanoliposomes. For this, a review has been made of the nanoliposomal systems marketed for the treatment of cancer, as well as those that are in the research phase, highlighting the clinical trials being carried out. All marketed liposomes studied are intravenously administered, showing a reduced intensity of side-effects compared with the nonliposomal form. Doxorubicin is the active ingredient most frequently employed. Ongoing clinical trials expand the availability of liposomal medicines with new clinical indications. In conclusion, the introduction of drugs in nanoliposomes means an improvement in their efficacy and the quality of life of patients. The future focus of research could be directed to develop multifunctional targeted nanoliposomes using new anticancer drugs, different types of existing drugs, or new standardized methodologies easily translated into industrial scale.

Ameliorative effect of gel combination of Centella asiatica extract transfersomes and rosemary essential oil nanoemulsion against UVB-induced skin aging in Balb/c mice

Background: Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation induces physiological and morphological photoaging of the skin resulting in wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. This study analyzed nanoencapsulation of a gel combination of Centella asiatica (CA) transfersomes and rosemary essential oil (REO) nanoemulsion with lipid-based nanocarriers for the ability of both biological compounds to synergistically prevent UVB radiation, along with ameliorative and anti-aging effects. Methods: To ensure the quality, lipid-based nanocarriers of transfersomes and nanoemulsion were characterized based on physicochemical properties such as particle size distribution, polydispersity index, zeta potential. In vivo studies were used to determine the biological effects of a gel combination of CA transfersomes, and REO nanoemulsion applied topically two weeks before UVB radiation (840 mJ/cm2) in BALB/c hairless mice. Results: Results showed that the optimum lipid-based nanocarriers had a particle size of 43.97 ± 5.6 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.64 ± 0.01, and a zeta potential of -10.91 ± 1.99 mV. In vivo experiments revealed that topical application of a gel combination of CA transfersomes and REO nanoemulsion significantly ameliorated wrinkle formation, epidermal hyperplasia, and collagen fiber arrangement caused by UVB exposure. Further, the gel combining CA transfersomes and REO nanoemulsion suppressed lipid peroxidation by decreasing the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and collagen destruction by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression. Moreover, the gel combination of CA transfersomes and REO nanoemulsion upregulated type I collagen through activation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway, thereby recovering the density of collagen fiber reduced by UVB radiation. Conclusions: Overall, these data indicate that topical application of a gel combination of CA transfersomes and REO nanoemulsion could act synergistically and potentially prevents oxidative stress and collagen degradation in the skin from UVB-induced photoaging.

Natural Products and Nanotechnology Against Coronavirus Disease 2019

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new and severe infectious disease and new global disaster and is spreading rapidly worldwide. Natural products have a long history and have been widely used to treat various acute, chronic, and even life-threatening diseases worldwide. However, the natural products have reduced bioavailability and availability as they have poor kinetic properties, such as large molecular weight, inability to cross lipid membranes, and weak absorption ability. With the rapid development of nanotechnology, using novel nanotechnology in conjunction with natural products can effectively eliminate the molecular restriction of the entry of nanoproducts into the body and can be used to diagnose and treat various diseases, including COVID-19, bringing new strategies and directions for medicine. This article reviews the role and implementation of natural products against COVID-19 based on nanotechnology.

Canthaxanthin Biofabrication, Loading in Green Phospholipid Vesicles and Evaluation of In Vitro Protection of Cells and Promotion of Their Monolayer Regeneration

In the present study, canthaxanthin was produced by biofermentation from Dietzia natronolimnaea HS-1 (D. natronolimnaea) and was loaded in phospholipid vesicles prepared with natural component using an easy and low dissipative method. Indeed, glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes were prepared by direct hydration of both phosphatidylcholine and the biotechnological canthaxanthin, avoiding the use of organic solvents. Vesicles were sized from 63 nm to 87 nm and highly negatively charged. They entrapped a high number of the biomolecules and were stable on storage. Canthaxanthin-loaded vesicles incubated with fibroblasts did not affect their viability, proving to be highly biocompatible and capable of inhibiting the death of fibroblasts stressed with hydrogen peroxide. They reduced the nitric oxide expression in macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharides. Moreover, they favoured the cell migration in an in vitro lesion model. Results confirmed the health-promoting potential of canthaxanthin in skin cells, which is potentiated by its suitable loading in phospholipid vesicles, thus suggesting the possible use of these natural bioformulations in both skin protection and regeneration, thanks to the potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiageing effects of canthaxanthin.

Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design, Development, and Therapy for Skin Disorders: An Overview of Scientific Evidence and Understanding Their Mechanism of Action

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, composed of the epidermis and the dermis. It provides protection and acts as a barrier against external menaces like allergens, chemicals, systemic toxicity, and infectious organisms. Skin disorders like cancer, dermatitis, psoriasis, wounds, skin aging, acne, and skin infection occur frequently and can impact human life. According to a growing body of evidence, several studies have reported that natural products have the potential for treating skin disorders. Building on this information, this review provides brief information about the action of the most important in vitro and in vivo research on the use of ten selected natural products in inflammatory, neoplastic, and infectious skin disorders and their mechanisms that have been reported to date. The related studies and articles were searched from several databases, including PubMed, Google, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Ten natural products that have been reported widely on skin disorders were reviewed in this study, with most showing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer effects as the main therapeutic actions. Overall, most of the natural products reported in this review can reduce and suppress inflammatory markers, like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), induce cancer cell death through apoptosis, and prevent bacteria, fungal, and virus infections indicating their potentials. This review also highlighted the challenges and opportunities of natural products in transdermal/topical delivery systems and their safety considerations for skin disorders. Our findings indicated that natural products might be a low-cost, well-tolerated, and safe treatment for skin diseases. However, a larger number of clinical trials are required to validate these findings. Natural products in combination with modern drugs, as well as the development of novel delivery mechanisms, represent a very promising area for future drug discovery of these natural leads against skin disorders.

Nanotechnology-based Herbal Formulations: A Survey of Recent Patents, Advancements, and Transformative Headways

Nanotechnology in association with herbal medicine can lead to enhanced therapeutic and diminished adverse effects of medication. In turn, it can lead to synergistic effects of administered compound overcoming its demerits. Nowadays, the trend of herbal compounds to treat even a small illness is gaining momentum. Gone are the days when the ineffectiveness of a compound was impossible to be dealt with. Nevertheless, in this competitive era of science and innovative technology, it has become possible to maximize the usefulness of ineffective yet potent herbal compounds. The demand for herbal compounds is getting amplified because of their ability to treat a myriad of diseases, including COVID-19, showing fewer side effects. The merger of nanotechnology with traditional medicine augments the potential of herbal drugs for devastating dangerous and chronic diseases like cancer. In this review article, we have tried to assimilate the complete information regarding the use of different nanocarriers to overcome the drawbacks of herbal compounds. In addition, all the recent advancements in the herbal field, as well as the future exploration to be emphasized, have been discussed.

Lipid-Based Nanovesicular Drug Delivery Systems

In designing a new drug, considering the preferred route of administration, various requirements must be fulfilled. Active molecules pharmacokinetics should be reliable with a valuable drug profile as well as well-tolerated. Over the past 20 years, nanotechnologies have provided alternative and complementary solutions to those of an exclusively pharmaceutical chemical nature since scientists and clinicians invested in the optimization of materials and methods capable of regulating effective drug delivery at the nanometer scale. Among the many drug delivery carriers, lipid nano vesicular ones successfully support clinical candidates approaching such problems as insolubility, biodegradation, and difficulty in overcoming the skin and biological barriers such as the blood-brain one. In this review, the authors discussed the structure, the biochemical composition, and the drug delivery applications of lipid nanovesicular carriers, namely, niosomes, proniosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, pharmacosomes, ufasomes, phytosomes, catanionic vesicles, and extracellular vesicles.

Phytochemical-Based Nano-Pharmacotherapeutics for Management of Burn Wound Healing

Medicinal plants have been used since ancient times for their various therapeutic activities and are safer compared to modern medicines, especially when properly identifying and preparing them and choosing an adequate dose administration. The phytochemical compounds present in plants are progressively yielding evidence in modern drug delivery systems by treating various diseases like cancers, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, microbial, viral and parasitic infections, psychotic diseases, spasmodic conditions, ulcers, etc. The phytochemical requires a rational approach to deliver the compounds to enhance the efficacy and to improve patients’ compatibility. Nanotechnology is emerging as one of the most promising strategies in disease control. Nano-formulations could target certain parts of the body and control drug release. Different studies report that phytochemical-loaded nano-formulations have been tested successfully both in vitro and in vivo for healing of skin wounds. The use of nano systems as drug carriers may reduce the toxicity and enhance the bioavailability of the incorporated drug. In this review, we focus on various nano-phytomedicines that have been used in treating skin burn wounds, and how both nanotechnology and phytochemicals are effective for treating skin burns.

Purified mucins in drug delivery research

One of the main challenges in the field of drug delivery remains the development of strategies to efficiently transport pharmaceuticals across mucus barriers, which regulate the passage and retention of molecules and particles in all luminal spaces of the body. A thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms, which govern such selective permeability, is key for achieving efficient translocation of drugs and drug carriers. For this purpose, model systems based on purified mucins can contribute valuable information. In this review, we summarize advances that were made in the field of drug delivery research with such mucin-based model systems: First, we give an overview of mucin purification procedures and discuss the suitability of model systems reconstituted from purified mucins to mimic native mucus. Then, we summarize techniques to study mucin binding. Finally, we highlight approaches that made use of mucins as building blocks for drug delivery platforms or employ mucins as active compounds.

Mangiferin and Hesperidin Transdermal Distribution and Permeability through the Skin from Solutions and Honeybush Extracts (Cyclopia sp.)-A Comparison Ex Vivo Study

Polyphenolic compounds—mangiferin and hesperidin—are, among others, the most important secondary metabolites of African shrub Cyclopia sp. (honeybush). The aim of this study was to compare the percutaneous absorption of mangiferin and hesperidin from solutions (water, ethanol 50%, (v/v)) and extracts obtained from green and fermented honeybush (water, ethanol 50%, (v/v)). Research was performed with the Bronaugh cells, on human dorsal skin. The mangiferin and hesperidin distributions in skin layers (stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis) and in acceptor fluid (in every 2, 4, 6, and 24 h) were evaluated by HPLC–Photodiode Array Coulometric and Coulometric Electrochemical Array Detection. The transdermal distribution of hesperidin was also demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy. Results indicated that mangiferin and hesperidin were able to cross the stratum corneum and penetrate into the epidermis and dermis. An advantage of hesperidin penetration into the skin from the water over ethanol solution was observed (451.02 ± 14.50 vs. 357.39 ± 4.51 ng/cm²), as well as in the mangiferin study (127.56 ± 9.49 vs. 97.23 ± 2.92 ng/cm²). Furthermore, mangiferin penetration was more evident from nonfermented honeybush ethanol extract (189.85 ± 4.11 ng/cm²) than from solutions. The permeation of mangiferin and hesperidin through the skin to the acceptor fluid was observed regardless of whether the solution or the honeybush extract was applied. The highest ability to permeate the skin was demonstrated for the water solution of hesperidin (250.92 ± 16.01 ng/cm²), while the hesperidin occurring in the extracts permeated in a very low capacity. Mangiferin from nonfermented honeybush ethanol extract had the highest ability to permeate to the acceptor fluid within 24 h (152.36 ± 8.57 ng/cm²).

Transfersomes as alternative topical nanodosage forms for the treatment of skin disorders

Topical drug delivery is a promising approach to treat different skin disorders. However, it remains a challenge mainly due to the nature and rigidity of the nanosystems, which limit deep skin penetration, and the unsuccessful demonstration of clinical benefits; greater penetration by itself, does not ensure pharmacological success. In this context, transfersomes have appeared as promising nanosystems; deformability, their unique characteristic, allows them to pass through the epidermal microenvironment, improving the skin drug delivery. This review focuses on the comparison of transfersomes with other nanosystems (e.g., liposomes), discusses recent therapeutic applications for the topical treatment of different skin disorders and highlights the need for further studies to demonstrate significant clinical benefits of transfersomes compared with conventional therapies.

Oleuropein multicompartment nanovesicles enriched with collagen as a natural strategy for the treatment of skin wounds connected with oxidative stress

Aim: Collagen-enriched transfersomes, glycerosomes and glytransfersomes were specifically tailored for skin delivery of oleuropein. Methods: Vesicles were prepared by direct sonication and their main physicochemical and technological properties were measured. Biocompatibility, protective effect and promotion of the healing of a wounded cell monolayer were tested in vitro using fibroblasts. Results: Vesicles were mainly multicompartment, small (∼108 nm), slightly polydispersed (approximately 0.27) and negatively charged (~-49 mV). Oleuropein was incorporated in high amounts (approximately 87%) and vesicles were stable during four months of storage. In vitro studies confirmed the low toxicity of formulations (viability ≥95%), their effectiveness in counteracting nitric oxide generation and damages caused by free oxygen radicals, especially when collagen glytransfersomes were used (viability ~100%). These vesicles also promoted the regeneration of a wounded area by promoting the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts. Conclusion: Collagen-enriched vesicles are promising formulations capable of speeding up the healing of the wounded skin.