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Published on: May 25, 2012
Engineered novel dually cross-linked hydrogel system embedded with Apigenin-cyclodextrin complex for surgical wound
Zakir Ali1,2, Fatima Zahid1,2, Ainy Butt1,2
1Nanomedicine Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
Scientific Reports
|June 7, 2026
Summary
A novel Apigenin-β-cyclodextrin (API-βCD) hydrogel system significantly enhances wound healing. This API-βCD hydrogel improves solubility and accelerates tissue regeneration with 97% wound closure and reduced inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Surgical wound healing requires advanced therapies for tissue regeneration.
- Apigenin (API) has therapeutic potential but suffers from poor solubility.
- Hydrogels offer a promising platform for wound management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a dually cross-linked hydrogel system incorporating an Apigenin-β-cyclodextrin (API-βCD) inclusion complex.
- To evaluate the efficacy of the API-βCD hydrogel for enhanced wound therapy.
Main Methods:
- Preparation and characterization of API-βCD inclusion complex using NMR, FTIR, XRD, SEM, molecular docking, and phase solubility.
- Synthesis and assessment of dually cross-linked hydrogel properties (structural, mechanical, physiochemical).
- In vitro release, ex vivo permeation, cell viability, antibacterial activity, wound closure, and anti-inflammatory analyses.
Main Results:
- Successful formation of API-βCD inclusion complex with a 66.8-fold increase in API solubility.
- API-βCD hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, optimal swelling/degradation, and sustained API release.
- Accelerated wound healing (97% closure), enhanced skin disposition (57%), improved cell viability, antibacterial activity, and reduced inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β).
Conclusions:
- The API-βCD hydrogel effectively improves Apigenin solubility and dissolution.
- This novel hydrogel system shows significant potential for regenerative wound management.
- The engineered hydrogel demonstrates promising therapeutic outcomes for complex wound healing challenges.
