Development and Characterization of a Hydrogel Containing Curcumin-Loaded Nanoemulsion for Enhanced In Vitro Antibacteria and In Vivo Wound Healing.

Curcumin (CUR) is a natural compound extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) used to cure acne, wound healing, etc. Its disadvantages, such as poor solubility and permeability, limit its efficacy. Nanoemulsion (NE)-based drug delivery systems have gained popularity due to their advantages. This study aimed to optimize a CUR-NE-based gel and evaluate its physicochemical and biological properties. A NE was prepared using the catastrophic phase inversion method and optimized using the Design Expert 12.0 software. The CUR-NE gel was characterized in terms of visual appearance, pH, drug release, antibacterial and wound healing effects. The optimal formulation contained CUR, Capryol 90 (oil), Labrasol:Cremophor RH40 (1:1) (surfactants), propylene glycol (co-surfactant), and water. The NE had a droplet size of 22.87 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.348. The obtained CUR-NE gel had a soft, smooth texture and a pH of 5.34 ± 0.05. The in vitro release of CUR from the NE-based gel was higher than that from a commercial gel with nanosized CUR (21.68 ± 1.25 µg/cm2, 13.62 ± 1.63 µg/cm2 after 10 h, respectively). The CUR-NE gel accelerated in vitro antibacterial and in vivo wound healing activities as compared to other CUR-loaded gels. The CUR-NE gel has potential for transdermal applications.

Case of misdiagnosed melioidosis from Hue city, Vietnam.

Melioidosis is an emerging infection, a potentially fatal tropical disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei in humans and animals, endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Diagnosis remains problematic due to its similarity to many other infections. The lack of clinical awareness and correct microbiological diagnosis contributes to the misidentification of melioidosis. We present a melioidosis case, which was misdiagnosed with pneumonia and septicemia due to Aeromonas salmonicida, leading to ineffective prolonged-course antibiotic treatment for the patient.