ENHANCED WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF NANO LIPID CARRIER (NLC) GEL CONTAINING Curcuma longa AND Syzygium polyanthum EXTRACTS
The increasing global prevalence of diabetes mellitus, particularly its complications such as diabetic wounds, necessitates the development of safe, effective, and affordable therapeutic strategies. Natural products suchasCurcuma longa and Syzygium polyanthum possess antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities; however, their clinical application is limited by poor stability and bioavailability. This study aimed to developananotechnology-based delivery system in the form of a Nano Lipid Carrier (NLC) gel incorporating combinedherbal extracts to enhance topical delivery and wound healing efficacy. The extracts were prepared using96%ethanol and characterised through standard phytochemical and physicochemical analyses. NLC formulations wereoptimised using Design Expert by varying lipid and surfactant compositions. The optimised NLC was evaluatedfor particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and morphology, followed by incorporation into gel basesand assessment of physicochemical properties. In vitro diffusion and in vivo diabetic wound healing studies wereconducted. The optimised NLC exhibited a particle size of 132 nm, PDI of 0.24, and zeta potential of −24.9mV, indicating good stability. The Carbopol-based gel showed appropriate pH and viscosity. The NLC gel demonstratedsustained drug release, reaching approximately 68.6% cumulative diffusion at 24 hours, and significantly enhanceddiabetic wound healing compared to conventional extract gel and control groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, thedeveloped NLC gel improves the stability, delivery, and therapeutic efficacy of C.longa and S. polyanthumextracts. This study supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by advancing accessible andeffective therapies for chronic wound management.
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