Simvastatin and adenosine-co-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for wound healing: Development, characterization and cell-based investigation

Ethyl-Cellulose Nanosponges for Topical Delivery of Simvastatin with Preferential Skin Retention for Wound Healing in a Full-Thickness Wound Rat Model

Novel topical nanosponges were implemented to improve the skin availability of simvastatin (SV) for treating full-thickness wounds while controlling the scarring process. SV exhibits great potential in treating various skin diseases owing to its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. However, its poor oral bioavailability and systemic side effects have hindered its clinical application in dermatology. For the first time, nanosponges were utilized to target injured skin, creating an SV reservoir within the wound bed to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Herein, SV-loaded ethyl-cellulose nanosponges (SV-NS) were prepared using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique, optimizing organic solvents, SV concentration, and stabilizer concentration. The selected SV-NS (20 mg SV) exhibited nanoporous particles (786.2 ± 50 nm), a specific surface area of 10.3 m2/g, and a total pore volume of 0.016 cm3/g, offering sustained release and enhanced skin retention capacity. In vivo studies on full-thickness rat wounds confirmed that topical SV-NS (5 mg SV, applied every 5 days) significantly accelerated wound closure (P < 0.0001), achieving 76.23 ± 3.20% closure by day 8, a 47% improvement over free SV. Consequently, SV-NS facilitated wound closure exceeding 90% by day 11, whereas free SV required 16 days to attain a comparable level, representing a 31.2% faster healing rate. Histological analysis further revealed that SV-NS promoted optimal epidermal layer formation and well-organized collagen deposition, with collagen expression significantly (P < 0.0001) reaching 59.85 ± 3.17% by day 16. Conclusively, SV-NS enhances SV's dermal availability, improving wound healing and minimizing side effects, demonstrating a promising approach for wound restoration.

An Inhaled Nanoemulsion Encapsulating a Herbal Drug for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treatment

Background: Celastrol (Cela), a phytochemical extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, has been extensively investigated for its potential anti-inflammatory, anti-psoriatic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and antineoplastic properties. However, its clinical translation is limited due to poor bioavailability, low solubility, and nonspecific toxicity. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an inhalable Cela-loaded nanoemulsion (NE) formulation to enhance targeted drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The NE formulation was optimized using Capmul MCM (25%), Tween 80 (20%), Transcutol HP (5%), and water (50%) as the oil, surfactant, co-surfactant, and aqueous phase, respectively. Physicochemical characterization included globule size, zeta potential, and drug release in simulated lung fluid. In vitro aerosolization performance, cytotoxicity in NSCLC cell lines (A549), scratch and clonogenic assays, and 3D tumor spheroid models were employed to assess therapeutic potential. Results: The NE showed a globule size of 201.4 ± 3.7 nm and a zeta potential of -15.7 ± 0.2 mV. Drug release was sustained, with 20.4 ± 5.5%, 29.1 ± 10%, 64.6 ± 4.1%, and 88.1 ± 5.2% released at 24, 48, 72, and 120 h, respectively. In vitro aerosolization studies indicated a median aerodynamic particle size of 4.8 ± 0.2 μm, confirming its respirability in the lung. Cell culture studies indicated higher toxicity of NE-Cela in NSCLC cells. NE-Cela significantly reduced A549 cell viability, showing a ~6-fold decrease in IC50 (0.2 ± 0.1 μM) compared to Cela alone (1.2 ± 0.2 μM). Migration and clonogenic assays demonstrated reduced cell proliferation, and 3D spheroid models supported its therapeutic activity in tumor-like environments. Conclusions: The inhalable NE-Cela formulation improved Cela's physicochemical limitations and demonstrated enhanced anti-cancer efficacy in NSCLC models. These findings support its potential as a targeted, well-tolerated therapeutic option for lung cancer treatment.