Designing and evaluation of dermal targeted combinatorial nanostructured lipid carrier gel loaded with curcumin and resveratrol for accelerating cutaneous wound healing

Abstract

A nanostructured lipid carrier containing combined curcumin (CUR) and resveratrol (RSV) was prepared and tested for its potential to accelerate wound healing through topical administration. Prepared nano lipid carrier (NLC) formulation had a particle size of 132.3 ± 4.54 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.478, and zeta potential of −16.6 mV. Entrapment efficiency (EE) for CUR and RSV was found to be 94.21 ± 0.28% and 84.61 ± 0.15%, respectively. Drug loading was found to be 8.560 ± 0.948% (for CUR) and 7.602 ± 0.452% (for RSV). NLC formulation was converted to NLC gel by incorporation of Carbopol 934 for enhancing its dermal applicability. Flux and permeability coefficient for CUR and RSV in NLC gel was found to be 22.087 µg/cm²/h, 11.299 µg/cm²/h, and 0.2208, 0.1129, respectively, through goat ear skin and 19.213 µg/cm²/h, 22.66 µg/cm²/h and 0.1921, 0.2266, respectively, through Strat-M^TM membrane. Dermatokinetic study revealed significant enhancement in C_{skin max} and AUC_0–12h in skin sample treated with NLC gel in comparison with plain gel. Also, NLC gel showed longer retention time which indicates prolonged drug action at targeted site thus, NLC gel may show better therapeutic efficacy than plain gel.

Keywords:

• Wound healing
• combination therapy
• nanostructured lipid carrier
• dermatokinetic
• antibacterial activity
• antioxidant effect