Novel curcumin-loaded gel-core hyaluosomes with promising burn-wound healing potential: Development, in-vitro appraisal and in-vivo studies

Abstract

Despite its effectiveness, curcumin (Curc) dermal delivery is handicapped by hydrophobicity, high metabolism and poor skin permeation. In this work, the potential of novel self-assembled nanogels, namely gel-core hyaluosome (GC-HS) to enhance Curc delivery to wound sites, enhance healing rate and decrease scar formation was evaluated. Curc-GC-HS were prepared using film hydration technique and evaluated regarding size, zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (% EE), and in vitro release. Structure elucidation was performed using light, polarizing and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In-vivo burn-wound healing potential, skin deposition ability and histological study were evaluated using female Sprague Dawley rats. Curc-GC-HS were compared to conventional transfersomal gel (Curc-T-Pl gel), and other conventional gels. Curc-GC-HS showed nanosize (202.7 ± 0.66 nm), negative ZP (-33 ± 2.6 mV) and % EE (96.44 ± 1.29%). TEM revealed discrete vesicles with characteristic bilayer structure. Polarizing microscopy proposed liquid crystalline consistency. Burn-wound healing study showed that Curc-GC-HS was the only system exhibiting marked improvement at day 7 of treatment. At 11th day, Curc-GC-HS treated wounds showed almost normal skin with no scar confirmed by histological analysis. Curc-GC-HS showed five folds higher skin deposition compared to conventional Curc-T-Pl gel. To conclude, novel gel-core hyaluosomes elaborated are promising nanogels able to increase Curc skin penetration and dermal localization while protecting it against degradation. Future perspective encompasses assessing potential of novel nanocarrier for skin cancer therapy.

Keywords: Burn; Curcumin; Dermal; Gel-core liposomes; Hyaluronic acid; Scar; Vesicles; Wound.