Effect of chitosan and curcumin nanoparticles against skeletal muscle fibrosis at early regenerative stage of glycerol-injured rat muscles

Abstract

IntroductionChitosan and curcumin are natural products that have a wide range of beneficial effects including wound healing. However, their high molecular weight and poor water solubility limit their applications.AimsTherefore, the current study aims to evaluate the effects of chitosan (Cs) and curcumin (Cn) nanoparticles (NPs) on fibrosis and regeneration of glycerol-injured muscle.MethodsMuscle injury was induced by intramuscular injection of glycerol into the tibialis anterior muscle of rats. Cs-NPs and Cn-NPs were administered at different doses intraperitoneally after injury. Injured muscles were collected at day 7 after injury, and muscle fibrosis and regeneration were assessed.ResultsThe present results revealed that Cs-NPs and Cn-NPs treatment significantly decreased fibrosis index and increased the average myotube diameter with shifting of the distribution of myotube diameters towards larger diameters in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Cs-NPs and Cn-NPs treatment significantly decreased the number of CD-68+ cells and Col-1+ area. Results showed that Cn-NPs had a higher protective effect, in the form of attenuating muscle fibrosis and inflammation, and enhancing muscle regeneration, than that of Cs-NPs.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to document the effects of Cs-NPs in injured muscles. The results of study might be a novel approach to attenuate muscle fibrosis in humans using curcumin and chitosan nanoparticles.