3D-wound healing model: influence of morphine and solid lipid nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Wound Healing Research
• Nanotechnology in Medicine
• Dermatology

Background:

• Topical opioids show promise for pain relief and accelerated healing in severe skin wounds.
• Conventional formulations struggle with consistent pain control due to drug degradation and low concentrations.
• Optimized formulations are needed for prolonged opioid release and to avoid impairing the healing process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate morphine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for enhanced wound management.
• To assess the impact of SLN on reepithelialization in a human-based 3D wound healing model.
• To investigate the potential of SLN for sustained drug delivery and improved wound healing outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Development of morphine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) with a mean size of approximately 180 nm.
• Induction of standardized wounds using CO(2)-laser irradiation on reconstructed human full-thickness skin equivalents (EpiDermFT).
• Testing the efficacy of morphine, morphine-loaded SLN, and unloaded SLN on wound closure and reepithelialization.

Main Results:

• Both morphine and SLN formulations (loaded and unloaded) significantly accelerated reepithelialization.
• Keratinocytes achieved near-complete coverage of the dermis equivalent within 4 days with SLN treatment.
• The vehicle alone did not promote comparable wound closure, highlighting the efficacy of the SLN approach.

Conclusions:

• Morphine-loaded SLN demonstrate potential for accelerating wound closure and improving reepithelialization.
• SLN exhibit low cytotoxicity and irritation, making them suitable for wound management.
• The developed SLN formulation offers a promising avenue for innovative wound care with potential for prolonged morphine release.