Development of chitosan/poly-γ-glutamic acid/pluronic/curcumin nanoparticles in chitosan dressings for wound regeneration

The hydrophobic polyphenol curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties that warrant its pharmacological consideration. We report a curcumin nanoparticle with a tripolymeric composite that can be used as a delivery device for wound healing. The present composite nanoparticles were prepared with three biocompatible polymers of chitosan, poly-gamma-glutamic acid, and pluronic using a simple ionic gelation technology. Pluronic was used to enhance the solubility of curcumin in chitosan/poly-gamma-glutamic acid nanoparticles, leading to the incorporation of chitosan/poly-gamma-glutamic acid/pluronic/curcumin nanoparticles into chitosan membranes, and reduced inflammation and bacterial infection during wound regeneration. Nanoparticles were of 193.1 +/- 8.9 nm and had a zeta potential of 20.6 +/- 2.4 mV. Moreover, in vitro analyses indicated controlled curcumin release in a simulated skin tissue model. Subsequent in vivo studies show that chitosan wound dressing containing chitosan/poly-gamma-glutamic acid/pluronic/curcumin nanoparticles promoted neocollagen regeneration and tissue reconstruction. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 81-90, 2017.