Combined effect of PLGA and curcumin on wound healing activity

Wound healing is a complex process involving many interdependent and overlapping sequences of physiological actions. The application of exogenous lactate released from poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer accelerated angiogenesis and wound healing processes. Curcumin is a well-known topical wound healing agent for both normal and diabetic-impaired wounds. Hence, we hypothesized that the PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating curcumin could much potentially accelerate the wound healing. In a full thickness excisional wound healing mouse model, PLGA-curcumin nanoparticles showed a twofold higher wound healing activity compared to that of PLGA or curcumin. Histology and RT-PCR studies confirmed that PLGA-curcumin nanoparticles exhibited higher re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation and anti-inflammatory potential. PLGA nanoparticles offered various benefits for the encapsulated curcumin like protection from light degradation, enhanced water solubility and showed a sustained release of curcumin over a period of 8 days. In conclusion, we demonstrated the additive effect of lactic acid from PLGA and encapsulated curcumin for the active healing of wounds. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.