Sustained-release ginseng/sodium alginate nano hydrogel formulation, characterization, and in vivo assessment to facilitate wound healing

Wound refers to the damage to the physical and physiological integrity of the epidermal or dermal layer that leads to various other pathogenic abnormalities if not healed normally. Wound healing is a complex physiological process involving inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases and various mechanisms such as cellular migration, production of cytokines, growth factors, and collagens. More specifically, wound healing is regulated by the controlled mechanism of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFB1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), etc. Therefore, ginseng-loaded nano hydrogel (NHG) was developed, which improved the wound healing potential of ginseng. For the development of NHG, initially, particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were determined. Further, FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, TEM, rheology study, swelling, and diffusibility study were performed. Further, a diffusion study was also carried out. Then order to determine the therapeutic efficacy of NHG in vivo efficacy study was performed. The particle size, PDI, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency of optimized nanoformulation was found to be 420.11 & PLUSMN; 5.21 nm, 0.424 & PLUSMN; 0.013, 0.006 & PLUSMN; 0.002 mV, 89.051 & PLUSMN; 0.022%, respectively. The FT-IR and PXRD analysis demonstrated the nanostructure of optimized nanoformulation. SEM and TEM-based analysis showed the nanoformulation's ultra-morphology, consisting of spherical nanoparticles with the entrapped ginseng extract. The developed NHG carried thixotropic behavior, providing easy dermal application. Outcomes of the diffusion study indicated prolonged ginseng diffusion from NHG for more than 20 h. The in vivo study in terms of wound closure study exhibited effective results for NHG. Additionally, the antioxidant study also showed remarkable results for NHG. Various other wound healing parameters such as EGF, VEGF, hydroxyproline level, and genetic expression of TGFB1, Col4A1, and Col1A1 exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) better results for NHG. Thus, the multifactorial pharmacological mechanism of optimized novel NHG carried efficient wound healing potential.