Hydrogel Delivery System Containing Calendulae flos Lyophilized Extract with Chitosan as a Supporting Strategy for Wound Healing Applications

Prunin: An Emerging Anticancer Flavonoid

Despite the substantial advances in cancer therapies, developing safe and effective treatment methodologies is critical. Natural (plant-derived compounds), such as flavonoids, might be crucial in developing a safe treatment methodology without toxicity toward healthy tissues. Prunin is a flavonoid with the potential to be used in biomedical applications. Prunin has yet to undergo thorough scientific research, and its precise molecular mechanisms of action remain largely unexplored. This review summarizes the therapeutic potential of prunin for the first time, focusing on its underlying mechanisms as an anticancer compound. Prunin has gained significant attention due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. This review aims to unlock how prunin functions at the molecular level to exert its anticancer effects, primarily modulating key cellular pathways. Furthermore, we have discussed the prunin's potential as an adjunctive therapy with conventional treatments, highlighting its ability to strengthen treatment responses while decreasing drug resistance. Moreover, the discussion probes into innovative delivery methods, particularly nanoformulations, that might address prunin's bioavailability, solubility, and stability limitations and optimize its therapeutic application. By providing a comprehensive analysis of prunin's properties, this review aims to stimulate further exploration of using prunin as an anticancer agent, thereby progressing the development of targeted, selective, safe, and effective therapeutic methods.

Developmental prospects of carrageenan-based wound dressing films: Unveiling techno-functional properties and freeze-drying technology for the development of absorbent films - A review

This review explores the intricate wound healing process, emphasizing the critical role of dressing material selection, particularly for chronic wounds with high exudate levels. The aim is to tailor biodegradable dressings for comprehensive healing, focusing on maximizing moisture retention, a vital element for adequate recovery. Researchers are designing advanced wound dressings that enhance techno-functional and bioactive properties, minimizing healing time and ensuring cost-effective care. The study delves into wound dressing materials, highlighting carrageenan biocomposites superior attributes and potential in advancing wound care. Carrageenan's versatility in various biomedical applications demonstrates its potential for tissue repair, bone regeneration, and drug delivery. Ongoing research explores synergistic effects by combining carrageenan with other novel materials, aiming for complete biocompatibility. As innovative solutions emerge, carrageenan-based wound-healing medical devices are poised for global accessibility, addressing challenges associated with the complex wound-healing process. The exceptional physico-mechanical properties of carrageenan make it well-suited for highly exudating wounds, offering a promising avenue to revolutionize wound care through freeze-drying techniques. This thorough approach to evaluating the wound healing effectiveness of carrageenan-based films, particularly emphasizing the development potential of lyophilized films, has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for patients receiving wound healing treatments.

Electrospun Nanofibers Loaded with Marigold Extract Based on PVP/HPβCD and PCL/PVP Scaffolds for Wound Healing Applications

Marigold flower is a traditionally used plant material topically applied on the skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial activity. This potential of action justifies the implementation of marigold extract in nanofiber scaffolds based on poly-vinylpyrrolidone/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (PVP/HPβCD) and polycaprolactone/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PCL/PVP) obtained by electrospinning for wound treatment. Using SEM, the morphology of electrospun scaffolds showed a fiber diameter in the range of 298-527 nm, with a uniform and bead-free appearance. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of marigold extracts in nanofibrous scaffolds. The composition of the nanofibers can control the release; in the case of PVP/HPβCD, immediate release of 80% of chlorogenic acid (an analytical and functional marker for marigold extract) was achieved within 30 min, while in the case of PCL/PVP, the controlled release was achieved within 24 h (70% of chlorogenic acid). All systems showed weak antibacterial activity against skin and wound-infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 100 mg/mL), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 200 mg/mL) and yeasts Candida albicans (MIC 100 mg/mL). Analysis of the effect of different scaffold compositions of the obtained electrofibers showed that those based on PCL/PVP had better wound healing potential. The scratch was closed after 36 h, compared to the 48 h required for PVP/HPβCD. Overall, the study shows that scaffolds of PCL/PVP nanofibers loaded with classic marigold extract have the best potential as wound dressing materials because of their ability to selectively modulate inflammation (via inhibition of hyaluronidase enzyme) and supportive antimicrobial properties, thereby aiding in the early stages of wound healing and repair.

Marine-derived polysaccharides and their therapeutic potential in wound healing application - A review

Polysaccharides originating from marine sources have been studied as potential material for use in wound dressings because of their desirable characteristics of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. Marine-derived polysaccharides used as wound dressing, provide several benefits such as promoting wound healing by providing a moist environment that facilitates cell migration and proliferation. They can also act as a barrier against external contaminants and provide a protective layer to prevent further damage to the wound. Research studies have shown that marine-derived polysaccharides can be used to develop different types of wound dressings such as hydrogels, films, and fibres. These dressings can be personalised to meet specific requirements based on the type and severity of the wound. For instance, hydrogels can be used for deep wounds to provide a moist environment, while films can be used for superficial wounds to provide a protective barrier. Additionally, these polysaccharides can be modified to improve their properties, such as enhancing their mechanical strength or increasing their ability to release bioactive molecules that can promote wound healing. Overall, marine-derived polysaccharides show great promise for developing effective and safe wound dressings for various wound types.

Chitosan-Based Hydrogels for Controlled Delivery of Asiaticoside-Rich Centella asiatica Extracts with Wound Healing Potential

Centella asiatica extract is a valued plant material with known anti-inflammatory and anti-microbiological properties. Using the Design of Experiment (DoE) approach, it was possible to obtain an optimized water/alcoholic extract from Centella asiatica, which allowed the preparation of the final material with biological activity in the wound healing process. Studies on the novel applications of Centella asiatica in conjunction with the multifunctional chitosan carrier have been motivated by the plant's substantial pharmacological activity and the need to develop new and effective methods for the treatment of chronic wounds. The controlled release of asiaticoside was made possible by the use of chitosan as a carrier. Based on the findings of investigations using the PAMPA skin assay, which is a model imitating the permeability of actives through skin, this compound, characterized by sustained release from the chitosan delivery system, was identified as being well able to permeate biological membranes such as skin. Chitosan and the lyophilized extract of Centella asiatica worked synergistically to block hyaluronidase, exert efficient microbiological activity and take part in the wound healing process, as proven in an in vitro model. A formulation containing 3% extract with 3% medium-molecular-weight chitosan was indicated as a potentially new treatment with high compliance and effectiveness for patients. Optimization of the chitosan-based hydrogel preparation ensured the required rheological properties necessary for the release of the bioactive from the chitosan delivery system and demonstrated a satisfactory antimicrobial activity.

Pullulan/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Loaded with Calendula officinalis Extract: Design and In Vitro Evaluation for Wound Healing Applications

The therapeutic efficiency of plant extracts has been limited by their poor pharmaceutical availability. Hydrogels have promising potential to be applied as wound dressings due to their high capacity to absorb exudates and their enhanced performance in loading and releasing plant extracts. In this work, pullulan/poly (vinyl alcohol) (P/PVA) hydrogels were first prepared using an eco-friendly method based on both a covalent and physical cross-linking approach. Then, the hydrogels were loaded with the hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula officinalis by a simple post-loading immersion method. Different loading capacities were investigated in terms of the physico-chemical properties, chemical composition, mechanical properties, and water absorption. The hydrogels exhibited high loading efficiency due to the hydrogen bonding interactions between polymer and extract. The water retention capacity as well as the mechanical properties decreased with the increase in the extract amount in hydrogel. However, higher amounts of extract in the hydrogel improved the bioadhesiveness. The release of extract from hydrogels was controlled by the Fickian diffusion mechanism. Extract-loaded hydrogels expressed high antioxidant activity, reaching 70% DPPH radical scavenging after 15 min immersion in buffer solution at pH 5.5. Additionally, loaded hydrogels showed a high antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and were non-cytotoxic against HDFa cells.

Marigold Metabolites: Diversity and Separation Methods of Calendula Genus Phytochemicals from 1891 to 2022

Marigold (Calendula), an important asteraceous genus, has a history of many centuries of therapeutic use in traditional and officinal medicines all over the world. The scientific study of Calendula metabolites was initiated at the end of the 18th century and has been successfully performed for more than a century. The result is an investigation of five species (i.e., C. officinalis, C. arvensis, C. suffruticosa, C. stellata, and C. tripterocarpa) and the discovery of 656 metabolites (i.e., mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpenes, phenols, coumarins, hydroxycinnamates, flavonoids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, etc.), which are discussed in this review. The identified compounds were analyzed by various separation techniques as gas chromatography and liquid chromatography which are summarized here. Thus, the genus Calendula is still a high-demand plant-based medicine and a valuable bioactive agent, and research on it will continue for a long time.

Recent Reports on Polysaccharide-Based Materials for Drug Delivery

Polysaccharides constitute one of the most important families of biopolymers. Natural polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems are of constant interest to the scientific community due to their unique properties: biocompatibility, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and high availability. These promising biomaterials protect sensitive active agents and provide their controlled release in targeted sites. The application of natural polysaccharides as drug delivery systems is also intensively developed by Polish scientists. The present review focuses on case studies from the last few years authored or co-authored by research centers in Poland. A particular emphasis was placed on the diversity of the formulations in terms of the active substance carried, the drug delivery route, the composition of the material, and its preparation method.

Uso de Cremes de Camomila e Calêndula na Prevenção de Radiodermatites Agudas em Pacientes com Câncer de Cabeça e Pescoço: Ensaio Clínico Randomizado Duplo-Cego

Introdução: A radiodermatite e caracterizada por lesões cutâneas decorrentes da exposição a radiação ionizante, acometendo entre 80%-90% dos pacientes submetidos a radioterapia na região da cabeça e pescoço. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade do uso do creme de camomila em relação ao creme de calêndula na prevenção da radiodermatite aguda em participantes submetidos a radioterapia para câncer de cabeça e pescoço. Método: Ensaio clinico randomizado, duplo-cego, prospectivo, com análise quantitativa. Foram avaliados 23 participantes, aleatoriamente designados para o grupo que fez uso do creme de camomila (n=12) ou para o grupo do creme de calêndula (n=11). A pele no campo de irradiação foi avaliada na primeira sessão de radioterapia, a cada cinco sessoes, e após 30 dias do termino do tratamento, de acordo com os critérios da Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). Resultados: Os participantes apresentaram radiodermatite em todas as avaliações, do grau 1 ao 3, exceto na primeira avaliação. O nível médio mais elevado foi observado, em ambos os grupos, na sexta avaliação (2,10±0,73 no grupo do creme de camomila e 2,37±0,51 no de calêndula). No grupo camomila, o maior grau de radiodermatite foi o 3, na quinta e sexta avaliações; enquanto, no calêndula, o grau 3 foi observado pela primeira vez na sexta avaliação, permanecendo até a oitava. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa nos grupos avaliados. Conclusão: Houve equivalência na efetividade do uso do creme de camomila em relação ao creme calêndula na prevenção de radiodermatites agudas em pacientes com câncer de cabeça e pescoço em radioterapia.

Development and Evaluation of Hydrogel Wound Dressings Loaded with Herbal Extracts

The current study aimed to develop carbomer based hydrogel dressings, incorporating ethanolic extracts of Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts, Achillea millefolium and Calendula officinalis flowers. The pharmaceutical properties of the obtained hydrogels, as well as their texture and antimicrobial activity, were further evaluated. Five wound dressing formulations based on carbopol were prepared. The addition of the ethanolic extracts to the formulation slightly lowered the pH of the hydrogels, as expected. The Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract loaded hydrogel proved to be the firmest one. In terms of consistency and viscosity, the behavior of the five hydrogels was relatively similar. Based on the texture analysis, the texture of the hydrogels has been affected to some extent by the addition of the ethanolic extracts, decreasing their consistency, firmness, and adhesiveness. The hydrogel loaded with Rosmarinus officinalis aerial parts extract and the one incorporating the blend of extracts (mixture of the three above-mentioned extracts) proved to have a good antimicrobial activity. The studied hydrogel formulations could serve as a basis for the development of novel wound dressing materials, although more extended in vivo studies would be needed in order to support current results.

Wound-aided semi-solid poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels incorporating essential oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles

The potential of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) loaded with essential oil (EO) incorporated into semi-solid PVA hydrogels for use in wound management was studied. Two types of essential oil were compared including clove essential oil (CEO) and turmeric essential oil (TEO). The EO-loaded CSNPs were prepared by a two-step method; oil-in-water (o/w) emulsification followed by ionic gelation using different ratios of chitosan:EO (i.e., 1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:0.75, and 1:1.00 w/w). The increasing amount of EO caused more aggregate structure as observed from SEM images. The TEO-loaded CSNPs showed a higher extent of aggregation than the CEO-loaded CSNPs. The adhesiveness of the semi-solid PVA hydrogels containing TEO-loaded CSNPs was the highest. The use of EO-loaded CSNPs in the semi-solid PVA hydrogel helped to sustain and prolong the release rate of EO from the hydrogels as compared to just the EO alone. The studied semi-solid PVA hydrogels were non-toxic to both NCTC clone 929 and NHDF cells. Overall results suggested that these semi-solid hydrogels are good candidates for use in wound management.

Development and Optimization of Chitosan-Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose In Situ Gelling Systems for Ophthalmic Delivery of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride

The aim of this study was the development and optimization of chitosan and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) in situ gelling systems, loaded with bupivacaine hydrochloride for topical ocular administration. This study is based on the properties of two polymers: chitosan, which has mucoadhesive action and is a pH-sensitive polymer, but also the cellulose derivative hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a thermosensitive polymer which has mucoadhesive properties and increases the viscosity of systems. The analysis and optimization of in situ gelling systems were performed based on an experimental design and response surface methodology. The following formulation parameters were considered: X1 = chitosan concentration (0.5%, 1%), X2 = HPMC E 5 LV concentration (2%, 5%) and X3 = Chitosan/HPMC E 5 LV ratio (1/1, 2/1). In addition, the parameters to be optimized were represented by the contact angle (CA (°)), viscosity and cumulative percentage of bupivacaine hydrochloride released in vitro. The results indicate that the designed in situ gelling systems are suitable for bupivacaine prolonged ophthalmic release and overcome the principal disadvantages of the liquid’s ocular formulations. An immediate therapeutic effect corresponding to ocular anesthetic installation was assured in the first stage: burst bupivacaine release. In the second phase, the gradual drug release was assured for over 6 h. This drug release profile, together with the corresponding rheological profile and a collection of superficial properties for good ocular adhesion balanced with an adequate hydrophilic character, assured the desired quality of the attributes for the proposed systems. The system, based on chitosan 1%, HPMC E 5 LV 5% and a 1/1 polymer ratio, could be a solution for the proposed formulation of in situ gelling colloidal systems, since the viscosity of the system was within the range of the optimal viscosity of the eye, and the amount of bupivacaine hydrochloride released after 6 h was the highest at 69.55%.

(+)-Usnic Acid as a Promising Candidate for a Safe and Stable Topical Photoprotective Agent

The study aimed to examine whether usnic acid—a lichen compound with UV-absorbing properties—can be considered as a prospective photoprotective agent in cosmetic products. Moreover, a comparison of two usnic acid enantiomers was performed to preselect the more effective compound. To meet this aim, an in vitro model was created, comprising the determination of skin-penetrating properties via skin-PAMPA assay, safety assessment to normal human skin cells (keratinocytes, melanocytes, fibroblasts), and examination of photostability and photoprotective properties. Both enantiomers revealed comparable good skin-penetrating properties. Left-handed usnic acid was slightly more toxic to keratinocytes (IC₅₀ 80.82 and 40.12 µg/mL, after 48 and 72 h, respectively) than its right-handed counterpart. The latter enantiomer, in a cosmetic formulation, was characterized by good photoprotective properties and photostability, comparable to the UV filter octocrylene. Perhaps most interestingly, (+)-usnic acid combined with octocrylene in one formulation revealed enhanced photoprotection and photostability. Thus, the strategy can be considered for the potential use of (+)-usnic acid as a UV filter in cosmetic products. Moreover, the proposed model may be useful for the evaluation of candidates for UV filters.