Multifunctional ZnO/SiO2 Core/Shell Nanoparticles for Bioimaging and Drug Delivery Application

Semiconducting nanoparticles with luminescent properties are used as detection probes and drug carriers in in-vitro and in-vivo analysis. ZnO nanoparticles, due to its biocompatibility and low cost, have shown potential application in bioimaging and drug delivery. Thus, ZnO/SiO2 core/shell nanoparticle was synthesised by wet chemical method for fluorescent probing and drug delivery application. The synthesised core/shell nanomaterial was characterized using XRD, FTIR, UV-VIS spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, TEM and PL analysis. The silicon shell enhances the photoluminescence and aqueous stability of the pure ZnO nanoparticles. The porous surface of the shell acts as a carrier for sustained release of curcumin. The synthesized core/shell particle shows high cell viability, hemocompatibility and promising florescent property. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Fabrication of a Chitosan-Based Wound Dressing Patch for Enhanced Antimicrobial, Hemostatic, and Wound Healing Application

Wounds are a serious life threat that occurs in daily life. The complex cascade of synchronized cellular and molecular phases in wound healing is impaired by different means, involving infection, neuropathic complexes, abnormal blood circulation, and cell proliferation at the wound region. Thus, to overcome these problems, a multifunctional wound dressing material is fabricated. In the current research work, we have fabricated a wound dressing polymeric patch, with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (Cs) incorporated with a photocatalytic graphene nanocomposite (GO/TiO2(V-N)) and curcumin by a gel casting method, that focuses on multiple stages of the healing process. The morphology, swelling, degradation, moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), porosity, light-induced antibacterial activity, hemolysis, blood clotting, blood abortion, light-induced biocompatibility, migration assay, and drug release were analyzed for the polymeric patches under in vitro conditions. PVA/Cs/GO/TiO2(V-N)/Cur patches have shown enhanced wound healing in in vivo wound healing experiments on Wister rats. They show higher collagen deposition, thicker granulation tissue, and higher fibroblast density than conventional dressing. A histological study shows excellent re-epithelialization ability and dense collagen deposition. In vitro and in vivo analysis confirmed that PVA/Cs/GO/TiO2(V-N) and PVA/Cs/GO/TiO2(V-N)/Cur patches enhance the wound healing process