Computational Investigation to Design Ofloxacin-Loaded Hybridized Nanocellulose/Lipid Nanogels for Accelerated Skin Repair.

The pharmaceutical application of biomaterials has attained a great success. Rapid wound healing is an important goal for many researchers. Hence, this work deals with the development of nanocellulose crystals/lipid nanogels loaded with ofloxacin (OFX) to promote skin repair while inhibiting bacterial infection. Ofloxacin-loaded hybridized nanocellulose/lipid nanogels (OFX-HNCNs) were prepared and evaluated adopting a computational method based on regression analysis. The optimized nanogels (OFX-HNCN7) showed a spherical outline with an encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size (PS) and zeta potential (ZP) values of 97.53 ± 1.56%, 200.2 ± 6.74 nm and -26.4 ± 0.50 mV, respectively, with an extended drug release profile. DSC examination of OFX-HNCN7 proved the amorphization of the encapsulated drug into the prepared OFX-HNCNs. Microbiological studies showed the prolonged inhibition of bacterial growth by OFX-HNCN7 compared to the free drug. The cytocompatibility of OFX-HNCN7 was proved by Sulforhodamine B assay. Tissue repair was evaluated using the epidermal scratch assay based on cell migration in human skin fibroblast cell line, and the results depicted that cell treated with OFX-HNCN7 showed a faster and more efficient healing compared to the control. In overall, the obtained findings emphasize the benefits of using the eco-friendly bioactive nanocellulose, hybridized with lipid, to prepare a nanocarrier for skin repair.

Calcium-Enriched Nanofibrillated Cellulose/Poloxamer in-situ Forming Hydrogel Scaffolds as a Controlled Delivery System of Raloxifene HCl for Bone Engineering.

PURPOSE: TEMPO-oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose (TONFC) originating from an agricultural waste (sugar cane) was utilized to prepare injectable in-situ forming hydrogel scaffolds (IHS) for regenerative medicine. METHODS: TONFC was prepared and characterized for its morphology and chemical structure using TEM and FT-IR, respectively. The cold method was applied to prepare hydrogels. Various concentrations of poloxamer 407 were added to the prepared TONFC (0.5%w/w). Different sources of calcium, Fujicalin® (DCP) or hydroxyapatite (TCP), were used to formulate the aimed calcium-enriched raloxifene hydrochloride-loaded IHS. Gelation temperature, drug content, injectability and in-vitro drug release were evaluated along with the morphological characters. Cytocompatibility studies and tissue regeneration properties were assessed on Saos-2 cells. RESULTS: TEM photograph of TONFC showed fibrous nanostructure. The selected formulation "Ca-IHS4" composed of TONFC+15% P407+10% TCP showed the most prolonged release pattern for 12 days with the least burst effect (about 25% within 24 h). SEM micro-photographs of the in-situ formed scaffolds showed a highly porous 3D structure. Cytocompatibility studies of formulation "Ca-IHS4" revealed the biocompatibility as well as improved cell adhesion, alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity and calcium ion deposition. CONCLUSION: The outcomes suggest that Ca-IHS4 presents a simple, safe-line and non-invasive strategy for bone regeneration.

Nanocellulose: From an agricultural waste to a valuable pharmaceutical ingredient.

Cellulose was and still is the most abundant biopolymer generated from all plant fibers including agricultural wastes. Using this waste as a starting material in the production of new products is a field of great interest. The demand for renewable and available resources in combination with advanced technologies is a necessity to develop new generations of advanced nanomaterials. This review aims to present integrated details on the extraction techniques and structure of nanofibrillated cellulose as well as cellulose nanocrystals derived from agricultural wastes besides the different treatment methods used to be suitable for several pharmaceutical applications. Different pharmaceutical applications are described, including controlled, sustained or rapid drug delivery, stabilizing agent, and its use as safe and sustained environment for cell culture allowing its use in tissue engineering field.

Nanofibrillated cellulose/cyclodextrin based 3D scaffolds loaded with raloxifene hydrochloride for bone regeneration.

This study intended to design novel nanofibrillated cellulose/cyclodextrin-based 3D scaffolds loaded with raloxifene hydrochloride for bone regeneration. The scaffolds were prepared using two different types of cyclodextrins namely; beta-cyclodextrin and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The prepared scaffolds were evaluated by characterizing their porosity, compressive strength, in-vitro drug release, FT-IR and XRD as well as their morphological properties using SEM. Results presented that the prepared scaffolds were highly porous, additionally, the scaffold containing drug/beta-cyclodextrin kneaded complex (SC5) showed the most controlled drug release pattern with the least burst effect and reached almost complete release at 480 h. The in-vitro cytocompatibility and regenerative effect of the chosen scaffold (SC5) was assessed using Saos-2 cell line. Results proved that SC5 was biocompatible. Moreover, it enhanced the cell adhesion, alkaline phosphatase enzyme expression and calcium ion deposition which are essential factors for bone mineralization. The obtained observations presented a novel, safe and propitious approach for bone engineering.

Bacterial cellulose/phytochemical's extracts biocomposites for potential active wound dressings.

The present study describes the impregnation of coffee extract (CE) into bacterial cellulose synthesized from kombucha tea fungus (KBC) of different cellulose content, incubated for different incubation periods (2, 4, and 10 days), to prepare biocomposites having the potential for wound healing applications. Total polyphenols in hydroalcoholic extracts from ground roasted coffee and its release from the prepared biocomposites were determined as gallic acid equivalent. The polyphenols content was found to be 13.66 mg/g and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the CE was determined using colony-forming unit (CFU) method against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus where the growth inhibition was 86 and 97% respectively. Biocomposites (KBC/CE) with the lowest cellulose and CE content showed the highest wet tensile stress (3.35 MPa), absorption of pseudo extracellular fluid (154.32% ± 4.84), and water vapor transmission rate (3184.94 ± 198.07 g/m2/day), whereas it showed the lowest polyphenols' release (51.85% ± 2.94)when immersed in PBS buffer of pH 7.4. The impregnation of CE into KBC provided biocomposites that can enlarge the range of BC in the biomedical application.

Development of wheat gluten/nanocellulose/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for active food packaging.

Bionanocomposites were developed by casting/evaporation of wheat gluten (WG), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and TiO2 nanoparticles. The effect of addition of different percentages of CNC, and TiO2 on tensile strength (TS), Young's modulus and water sensitivity was studied. A significant improvement in the studied properties is observed when 7.5% CNC and 0.6% TiO2 is added to WG. WG/CNC 7.5%/0.6% TiO2 blend suspension was chosen to coat commercial packaging unbleached kraft paper sheets via 1, 2 and 3 coating layers. A significant enhancement of 56% and 53% in breaking length and burst index, respectively, was achieved for 3 layers coated paper. The antimicrobial activity of the coated papers, against Saccharomyces cervisiae, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, was investigated and expressed in terms of reduction % of surviving number (CFU) of the tested organisms. More than 98.5% reduction in CFU was observed against the organisms compared to TiO2-free coated paper.

Plant proteins as binders in cellulosic paper composites.

Plant proteins are used - for the first time - in this work as bulk binders for cellulosic fibers in paper composites. Soy bean protein and wheat gluten were denatured by two methods, namely by: urea+NaOH and by urea+NaOH+acrylamide. Addition of increased amounts of the denatured proteins resulted in a significant increase in all paper strength properties. Soy protein led, in addition, to a remarkable enhancement in opacity. The use of proteins increased kaolin retention in the paper composites, while keeping the paper strength higher than the blank protein-free paper. The results show that plant proteins are favorable than synthetic adhesives; because they are biodegradable and do not cause troubles in paper recycling i.e. they are environmentally friendly.