An EGF- and Curcumin-Co-Encapsulated Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Accelerates Chronic-Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

Hye-Jin Lee,Cheong-Weon Cho,Moses Jeong,Young-Guk Na,Sung-Jin Kim,Hong-Ki Lee

doi:10.3390/molecules25204610

Hye-Jin Lee, Cheong-Weon Cho + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204610

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Abstract

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) are capable of encapsulating hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. The present study developed an NLC containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) and curcumin (EGF–Cur-NLC). EGF–Cur-NLC was prepared by a modified water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) double-emulsion method. The EGF–Cur-NLC particles showed an average diameter of 331.8 nm and a high encapsulation efficiency (81.1% and 99.4% for EGF and curcumin, respectively). In vitro cell studies were performed using two cell types, NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes. The results showed no loss of bioactivity of EGF in the NLC formulation. In addition, EGF–Cur-NLC improved in vitro cell migration, which mimics the wound healing process. Finally, EGF–Cur-NLC was evaluated in a chronic wound model in diabetic rats. We found that EGF–Cur-NLC accelerated wound closure and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Overall, these results reveal the potential of the NLC formulation containing EGF and curcumin to promote healing of chronic wounds.

Highlights

Wound healing is an essential physiological process and generally consists of four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling [1]
The type of lipids and surfactants, which is a major component of Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), determines the physicochemical properties of NLC
Our work showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF)–Cur-NLC accelerated wound healing by inducing an antioxidant effect and by stimulating the migration/proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts

Summary

Introduction

Wound healing is an essential physiological process and generally consists of four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling [1]. Hemostasis begins with the formation of a fibrin clot. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, in particular, epidermal growth factor (EGF), are released around the wounded tissues [2]. Inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes reach the wound [3,4,5]. The proliferative phase starts, during which epithelial proliferation and migration occur. Fibroblasts produce collagen for extracellular matrix (ECM) formation [6]. The remodeling phase, the granulation tissue is remodeled, reestablishing the normal tissue architecture [6]

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