In this study, chitosan/curcumin (CS/Cur) and chitosan/papain (CS/Pa) nanoparticles were prepared and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential light scattering (DLS). Subsequently, release rate, porosity, swelling, degradability, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cell viability tests were conducted to investigate and compare the healing potential of the nanoparticles for various types of wounds. The results of FTIR, XRD, and DLS indicated that the nanoparticles were manufactured correctly with a hydrodynamic diameter of 429 nm (CS/Cur) and 460 nm (CS/Pa), and zeta potential of 4.32 mV (CS/Cur) and 7.57 mV (CS/Pa). The release rate results indicated a higher release rate in a basic environment (pH 8.4) for curcumin, a higher release rate for papain in an acidic environment (pH 6.4), and the Korsmeyer-Peppas model for the release of curcumin and papain. The results indicated that CS/Cur with 41.6% antioxidant activity, high antibacterial effect, and cell growth up to 616% during 7 days, was more effective than CS/Pa. In comparison, CS/Pa (with a porosity of 70.5% and a swelling rate of 1392%) was more advantageous than CS/Cur in terms of porosity and swelling. In addition, CS/Cur was as effective as CS/Pa in terms of degradation and anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, the outcomes represented that the CS/Cur and CS/Pa nanoparticles improved wound healing, and each was suitable for specific wounds and wound healing stages.
Keywords: Chitosan nanoparticles; Curcumin; Papain; Wound healing.
© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.