Research Projects

Rationale of the study: Approximately 1 in 3 people with diabetes develop diabetic wounds (DWs), and there is only one FDA-approved treatment available, along with two other moderately effective options. Disrupted healing processes and complex pathological factors in DWs make them less responsive to available treatments, delay wound healing, result in amputation, and, in some cases, mortality within 5 years of diagnosis. Therefore, combination therapy may reduce complexity by modulating the immune environment, promoting angiogenesis and antimicrobial activity & supporting wound healing. Phytomolecules, such as the flavonoid glabridin, demonstrate antimicrobial activity, while the isoflavone calycosin induces endothelial growth factors and stimulates angiogenesis. However, phytomolecules' low solubility & stability can limit their effectiveness in biological systems. Thus, creating core-shell microparticles can encapsulate two molecules separately in the core and shell regions, helping to avoid physical & chemical incompatibilities, improve solubility & stability, and enhance their biological availability. Self-healing hydrogels have the capacity to recover from damage caused by physical & chemical forces at the target site and continuously support the healing process. Anionic chondroitin self-healing hydrogel can adsorb overexpressed immune mediators at the wound site and significantly help regulate the immune response and the subsequent stages of wound healing. The encapsulated phytomedicines with self-healing hydrogel may suppress excessive inflammation, induce angiogenesis, & provide antimicrobial activity to support wound maturation like normal wound healing Research question: Can the proposed treatment effectively reduce excessive inflammation while ensuring balanced immune system and supporting natural healing? Hypothesis: Designing a self-healing hydrogel with phytomolecules-loaded microparticles may target diabetic wound pathological factors to improve wound healing Objectives: •Design of phytopharmaceuticals loaded core-shell microparticles by 3-fluid nozzle spray drying to enhance physicochemical properties •Fabrication of microparticles hybrid chondroitin-based self-healing hydrogel and in-vitro assay to check healing efficacy •In-vivo assay to assess the hydrogel hybrid microparticle's immunomodulatory effects & diabetic wound repair Research plan: Phytomedicines loaded core-shell microparticle fabrication by spray drying-design of microparticles containing self-healing hydrogel-in-vitro & in-vivo antimicrobial, inflammatory mediators’ sequestration, and angiogenesis assay to check the wound healing Significant outcome •Scalable & commercially suitable core-shell microparticle preparation technology would be developed •This hydrogel hybrid microparticle approach would generate new scientific knowledge and be a one-shot treatment. The study's outcome may benefit millions in treating chronic non-healing wounds with high compliance