The present work demonstrated an efficient cutaneous wound healing using Bixin-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers as a controlled delivery system. The influence of Bixin (Bix) content on PCL nanofiber, Bix-PCL1(2.5% w/w bix) and Bix-PCL2 (12.5% w/w bix) formation was investigated using electrical conductivity, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy. The results showed that a greater bixin concentration resulted in higher polymeric solution electrical conductivity. Moreover, higher polymeric solution electrical conductivity provides lower nanofibers in terms of average diameter than pure PCL nanofibers. In vitro release was largely governed by a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The initial Bixin release domain showed a burst release over the first 10 hours where approximately 30% and 40% of Bixin was released from Bix-PCL1 and Bix-PCL2 nanofibers, respectively. The second kinetic domain was comprised of a continuous and slow Bixin release that led to almost 100% of the Bixin being released within 14 days. The results on excisional wound model in induced diabetic mice indicated that the low concentration of Bixin released from loaded Bix-PCL nanofibers maintain the biological activity of Bixin and is efficient in accelerating the wound healing as well as in reducing the scar tissue area compared with pure PCL nanofibers. Therefore, soft material Bixin-loaded PCL nanofibers are a promising candidate for use in wound dressing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1938-1949, 2017.

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Valsartan, a water-insoluble drug, is mainly used in the treatment of hypertension albeit with reduced oral bioavailability. The aim of work was to develop a valsartan:β-cyclodextrin (VAL:β-CD) pharmaceutical composition in order to improve its water solubility and bioavailability. The VAL:β-CD complexes were prepared by the kneading, solid dispersion and freeze-drying methods, of which the freeze-drying method (FDY) was found to be the best to prepare an inclusion complex. A physical mixtyure PM was also prepared. Complexes were characterized by thermal analysis, Fourier transformed- infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Powder X-ray diffractometry, intrinsic dissolution and NMR (2D-ROESY). Phase-solubility analysis showed AL-type diagrams with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Microcalorimetric titrations suggested the formation of 1:1 inclusion complex between VAL and β-CD. The apparent stability constants K1:1 calculated from phase-solubility plots were 165.4 M-1 (298 K), 145.0 M-1 (303 K) and 111.3 M-1 (310 K). In vivo experiments in rats showed that reduction in arterial pressure for the FDY complex is better than with valsartan used alone. The better activity of FDY can be attributed to the higher solubility of valsartan after inclusion in the cyclodextrin cavity, as suggest by the intrinsic dissolution studies.

Bioactive glass nanoparticles-loaded poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanofibers (BIOG PCL nanofibers) were synthesized and evaluated as substrates for ocular cells (ARPE-19). BIOG PCL nanofibers were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and DSC, and thein vitrodegradation profile was also investigated. Thein vitroocular biocompatibility of nanofibers was exploited in Müller glial cells (MIO-M1 cells) and in chorioallantoic membrane (CAM); and the proliferative capacity, cytotoxicity, and functionality were evaluated. Finally, ARPE-19 cells were seeded onto BIOG PCL nanofibers and they were investigated as supports forin vitrocell adhesion and proliferation. SEM images revealed the incorporation of BIOG nanoparticles into PCL nanofibers. Nanoparticles did not induce modifications in the chemical structure and semicrystalline nature of PCL in the nanofiber, as shown by FTIR and DSC. MIO-M1 cells exposed to BIOG PCL nanofibers showed viability, and they were able to proliferate and to express GFAP, indicating cellular functionality. Moreover, nanofibers were well tolerated by CAM. These findings suggested thein vitroocular biocompatibility and absence of toxicity of these nanofibers. Finally, the BIOG nanoparticles modulated the protein adsorption, and, subsequently, ARPE-19 cells adhered and proliferated onto the nanostructured supports, establishing cell-substrate interactions. In conclusion, the biodegradable and biocompatible BIOG PCL nanofibers supported the ARPE-19 cells.