Levofloxacin loaded poly (ethylene oxide)-chitosan/quercetin loaded poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) core-shell electrospun nanofibers for burn wound healing

This study developed a new burn wound dressing based on core-shell nanofibers that co-deliver antibiotic and antioxidant drugs. For this purpose, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-chitosan (CS)/poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) core-shell nanofibers were fabricated through co-axial electrospinning technique. Antibiotic levofloxacin (LEV) and antioxidant quercetin (QS) were incorporated into the core and shell parts of PEO-CS/PLGA nanofibers, respectively. The drugs could bond to the polymer chains through hydrogen bonding, leading to their steady release for 168 h. An in vitro drug release study showed a burst effect followed by sustained release of LEV and QS from the nanofibers due to the Fickian diffusion. The NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell viability of the drug loaded core-shell nanofibers was comparable to that in the control (tissue culture polystyrene) implying biocompatibility of the nanofibers and their cell supportive role. However, there was no significant difference in cell viability between the drug loaded and drug free core-shell nanofibers. According to in vivo experiments, PEO-CS-LEV/PLGA-QS core-shell nanofibers could accelerate the healing process of a burn wound compared to a sterile gauze. Thanks to the synergistic therapeutic effect of LEV and QS, a significantly higher wound closure rate was recorded for the drug loaded core-shell nanofibrous dressing than the drug free nanofibers and control. Conclusively, PEO-CS-LEV/PLGA-QS core-shell nanofibers were shown to be a promising wound healing material that could drive the healing cascade through local co-delivery of LEV and QS to burn wounds

Levofloxacin loaded poly (ethylene oxide)-chitosan/quercetin loaded poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) core-shell electrospun nanofibers for burn wound healing

This study developed a new burn wound dressing based on core-shell nanofibers that co-deliver antibiotic and antioxidant drugs. For this purpose, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-chitosan (CS)/poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) core-shell nanofibers were fabricated through co-axial electrospinning technique. Antibiotic levofloxacin (LEV) and antioxidant quercetin (QS) were incorporated into the core and shell parts of PEO-CS/PLGA nanofibers, respectively. The drugs could bond to the polymer chains through hydrogen bonding, leading to their steady release for 168 h. An in vitro drug release study showed a burst effect followed by sustained release of LEV and QS from the nanofibers due to the Fickian diffusion. The NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell viability of the drug loaded core-shell nanofibers was comparable to that in the control (tissue culture polystyrene) implying biocompatibility of the nanofibers and their cell supportive role. However, there was no significant difference in cell viability between the drug loaded and drug free core-shell nanofibers. According to in vivo experiments, PEO-CS-LEV/PLGA-QS core-shell nanofibers could accelerate the healing process of a burn wound compared to a sterile gauze. Thanks to the synergistic therapeutic effect of LEV and QS, a significantly higher wound closure rate was recorded for the drug loaded core-shell nanofibrous dressing than the drug free nanofibers and control. Conclusively, PEO-CS-LEV/PLGA-QS core-shell nanofibers were shown to be a promising wound healing material that could drive the healing cascade through local co-delivery of LEV and QS to burn wounds

Cross-linking of Poly(sodium acrylate)-Based Hydrogels by a Non-vinyl Cross-linker

Polyvinyl-based cross-linkers are most frequently used for internal cross-linking of hydrogels, while non-vinyl cross-linkers are used for surface cross-linking of hydrogels by reactions between the pendant groups of hydrogel and functional groups of cross-linkers. The type of internal or external cross-linking of hydrogels strongly affects their final properties. The type of internal or external cross-linking of hydrogels strongly affects the final properties of the products. In this research, the superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) based on partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA-NaAA) were synthesized by solution polymerization, using a series of new multifunctional cross-linkers such as polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE-300), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE), 1,4-butane diol (BDO) and [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-propyl]-trimethoxysilane (GPS) in the presence of ammonium persulfate-tetramethyl ethylene diamine (APS/TMEDA) as initiator. The molecular structures of PEGDGE and GPS hydrogels were detected by FTIR and EDX analyses. The type and concentration of cross-linkers were studied in relation to hydrogels’ free swelling capacity in distilled water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution and their absorbency under load (AUL) and resulting rheological behavior. The result showed that the order of free swelling capacity in the hydrogels synthesized by these four cross-linkers was GPS PEGDGE EGDGE BDO. In a constant free absorbency capacity (about 200 g/g), the cross-linked PEGDGE showed the highest amount of AUL. Furthermore, the rheological results showed the higher swollen gel strength in this hydrogel and confirmed the AUL result. The swelling properties of non-vinyl cross-linkers strongly depended on drying temperature, and hydrogels cured at different temperatures exhibited different rheological properties achieved by a constant amount of cross-linker. The use of non-vinyl cross-linker is a new approach to synthesize hydrogels without any polyvinyl-based cross-linkers

Exosomes as therapeutic and drug delivery vehicle for neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract Neurodegenerative disorders are complex, progressive, and life-threatening. They cause mortality and disability for millions of people worldwide. Appropriate treatment for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is still clinically lacking due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Developing an effective transport system that can cross the BBB and enhance the therapeutic effect of neuroprotective agents has been a major challenge for NDs. Exosomes are endogenous nano-sized vesicles that naturally carry biomolecular cargoes. Many studies have indicated that exosome content, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), possess biological activities by targeting several signaling pathways involved in apoptosis, inflammation, autophagy, and oxidative stress. Exosome content can influence cellular function in healthy or pathological ways. Furthermore, since exosomes reflect the features of the parental cells, their cargoes offer opportunities for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of diseases. Exosomes have unique characteristics that make them ideal for delivering drugs directly to the brain. These characteristics include the ability to pass through the BBB, biocompatibility, stability, and innate targeting properties. This review emphasizes the role of exosomes in alleviating NDs and discusses the associated signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the unique biological features of exosomes, making them a promising natural transporter for delivering various medications to the brain to combat several NDs, are also discussed

Design, optimization and characterization of a novel antibacterial chitosan-based hydrogel dressing for promoting blood coagulation and full-thickness wound healing: A biochemical and biophysical study

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