Microenvironment-Responsive Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Multiphase Pickering emulsions are crucial for managing complex wounds.
• Current Pickering emulsion strategies for wound care are limited by inactive particle stabilizers and hydrophobic drug encapsulation.
• There is a need for advanced wound dressings with enhanced therapeutic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, plant-derived Pickering emulsion (TEO/TC PE) for enhanced wound management.
• To create a core-shell structure using functional tea polyphenol-curcumin nanoparticles (TC NPs) encapsulating thyme essential oil (TEO).
• To evaluate the synergistic therapeutic effects and wound healing capabilities of the developed Pickering emulsion.

Main Methods:

• Encapsulation of hydrophobic curcumin (Cur) with hydrophilic tea polyphenol (TP) to form TC NPs.
• Adsorption of TC NPs onto TEO droplets via homogenization to create a stable oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion with a core-shell structure.
• Assessment of sequential release of Cur and TEO, and evaluation of antibacterial, biofilm elimination, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities.
• Application of the injectable TEO/TC PE in infected full-thickness skin defects to assess wound healing efficacy.

Main Results:

• A stable TEO/TC PE with a core-shell structure was successfully developed.
• The emulsion exhibited sequential release of active agents, leading to synergistic antibacterial, biofilm elimination, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Application of the TEO/TC PE in animal models showed satisfactory wound healing with accelerated angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and skin regeneration.
• The plant-sourced TEO/TC PE demonstrated biosafety.

Conclusions:

• The developed TEO/TC PE, composed entirely of active plant-derived components, offers a promising platform for advanced wound dressings.
• The synergistic action of sequentially released active agents enhances therapeutic outcomes for complex wound management.
• This novel Pickering emulsion technology is expected to drive future innovations in biocompatible and effective wound care solutions.