Wound Healing Property of Curcuminoids as a Microcapsule-Incorporated Cream

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Ability to Stimulate Wound Healing of a Common-Plantain Extract in Alginate Gel Formulations

Our study aimed to investigate the biological effects of a common-plantain (Plantago major L.) extract, encapsulated in alginate, on dermal human fibroblast cultures in vitro, in view of its potential use as a wound healing adjuvant therapy. Common-plantain extracts were obtained by infusion and ultrasound extraction, and their total polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity were determined by spectrophotometry. The best extract, which was obtained by infusion, was further encapsulated in sodium alginate in two different formulations. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to demonstrate the existing interactions in the obtained common-plantain extract in the alginate formulations. The encapsulation efficiency was evaluated based on the total polyphenol content. These alginate gel formulations were further used in vitro to determine their biocompatibility and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by spectrophotometry and ELISA, as well as their ability to stimulate fibroblast migration (scratch test assay) at different time points. In addition, the collagen 1 and 3 levels were determined by Western blot analysis. The data showed that the microencapsulated plantain extract formulations induced an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effect, enhanced collagen production and increased wound closure in the first 8 h of their application. These results are encouraging for the use of this alginate plantain extract formulation as an adjuvant for skin wound healing.

Alginate hydrogel with enhanced curcumin release through HPβCD assisted host-guest interaction

The underprivileged pharmacodynamic action of curcumin, which arose from its low water solubility and rapid metabolism, restricts its therapeutic performance. In this study, (2-Hydroxy isopropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) as a macrocycle host molecule was employed to enhance the availability and control release of curcumin by forming a host-guest inclusion complex within an in-situ forming alginate hydrogel. The formation of the inclusion complexes of curcumin with a single host molecule was characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and DLS analyses. The inclusion complex of curcumin and HPβCD (HPβCD-Cur) showed a high encapsulation efficiency of 88.2 %. According to DLS results, aqueous dispersion of HPβCD-Cur exhibited a unimodal histogram after 2 and 7 days with average particles size of 207.5 and 230.6 nm, respectively. This observation could be because of the formation of an inclusion complex that effectively distributed in solution and prevented curcumin agglomeration. The prepared alginate hydrogel containing HPβCD-Cur demonstrated >87 % reduction in colonies of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which significantly is higher than that for Alg/Cur (<69 %). The Alg/HPβCD-Cur hydrogel exhibited a high water uptake of 470 % after 2 h, and a curcumin cumulative release of 80 % over 72 h, with proper cytocompatibility. Consequently, it was shown that the HPβCD carrier could act as an apt host molecule that can properly encapsulate curcumin and enhance its release from the Alg/HPβCD-Cur hydrogel.

Recent advances in microencapsulation of drugs for veterinary applications

Microencapsulation is a process where very minute droplets or particles of solid or liquid or gas are trapped with a polymer to isolate the internal core material from external environmental hazards. Microencapsulation is applied mostly for flavor masking, fortification, and sustained and control release. It improves palatability, absorption, and bioavailability of drugs with good conformity. Microencapsulation has been widely studied in numerous drug delivery systems for human health. The application of microcapsules in the veterinary pharmaceutical sciences is increasing day by day. The treatment systems for humans and animals are likely to be similar, but more complex in the veterinary field due to the diversity of the species, breeds, body size, biotransformation rate, and other factors associated with animal physiology. Commercially viable, economically profitable, and therapeutically effective microencapsulated vaccine, anthelmintic, antibacterial, and other therapeutics have a great demand for livestock and poultry production. Nowadays, researchers emphasize the controlled and sustained-release dosage form of drugs in the veterinary field. This paper has highlighted the microencapsulation materials, preparation techniques, characteristics, roles, and the application of microcapsules in veterinary medicine.