Probing the wound healing potential of biogenic silver nanoparticles.

OBJECTIVE: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known for their antimicrobial profile and wound healing activities. However, cytotoxicity and cosmetic abnormalities associated with silver pose a major challenge in their translation for therapeutic applications. Our objective was to develop biogenic AgNPs, using a single-step green synthesis, and to investigate their in vitro and in vivo behaviour as wound-healing agents. METHOD: AgNPs were prepared using the green synthesis approach with aqueous Bryonia laciniosa leaves extract. The AgNPs were then evaluated for physicochemical properties, stability, and antimicrobial and in vivo wound healing activities. RESULTS: Stable AgNPs with characteristic absorption at 408nm and 15±3nm particle size were generated via the active involvement of Bryonia laciniosa. No loss of stability was detected after 6 months at room temperature. Antibacterial activity was observed against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with no cytotoxicity observed in vitro at a concentration of 200 µg/mL and effective cytokine modulation. In vivo wound healing experiments showed improved wound contracting ability in rats where, after 14 days, wound alleviation was 47.1±2.2% in the control groups, compared with 78.1±1.4% and 92.6±6.7% for a silver-based marketed cream and the AgNPs, respectively. CONCLUSION: The developed AgNPs proved to be superior wound healing agents owing to scarless healing with insignificant inflammation and toxicity. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Compatibility studies between carbamazepine and tablet excipients using thermal and non-thermal methods.

Proper formulation is an important aspect of any dosage form design. As a part of preformulation studies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate the physicochemical compatibility between Carbamazepine and various excipients commonly used in tablet manufacturing, supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) studies. Compatibility studies were conducted on samples kept at room temperature and at an elevated temperature of 55 degrees C for 3 weeks. Carbamazepine was found to be compatible with all lactose-based components, such as Granulac 230, Flowlac 100, and Microcelac 100. Differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated incompatibility with mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, starch, and stearic acid. However, XRPD and FTIR studies implied that all the above excipients are compatible with Carbamazepine. X-ray powder diffraction demonstrated incompatibility with stearic acid for samples stored at 55 degrees C for 3 weeks, indicative of formation of a solid solution. Thus, DSC being a thermal method of analysis should not be used singly to detect any inherent incompatibility. It has to be supported sufficiently by other non-thermal techniques, such as XRPD and FTIR.