Simvastatin Nanoparticles Loaded Polymeric Film as a Potential Strategy for Diabetic Wound Healing: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: The pleiotropic effects of statins are recently explored for wound healing through angiogenesis and lymph-angiogenesis that could be of great importance in diabetic wounds.

Aims: The aim of the present study is to fabricate nanofilm embedded with simvastatin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS-SIM-NPs) and to explore the efficacy of SIM in diabetic wound healing.

Methods: The NPs, prepared via ionic gelation, were 173 nm ± 2.645 in size with a zeta potential of -0.299 ± 0.009 and PDI 0.051 ± 0.088 with excellent encapsulation efficiency (99.97%). The optimized formulation (CS: TPP, 1:1) that exhibited the highest drug release (91.64%) was incorporated into the polymeric nanofilm (HPMC, Sodium alginate, PVA), followed by in vitro characterization. The optimized nanofilm was applied to the wound created on the back of diabetes-induced (with alloxan injection 120 mg/kg) albino rats.

Results: The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the wound healing process compared to the diabetes-induced non-treated group. The results highlighted the importance of nanofilms loaded with SIM-NPs in diabetic wound healing through angiogenesis promotion at the wound site.

Conclusion: Thus, CS-SIM-NPs loaded polymeric nanofilms could be an emerging diabetic wound healing agent in the industry of nanomedicines.

Keywords: Simvastatin; alginate; bio-degradable; chitosan nanoparticles; diabetic wound healing; in vitro release; polymeric nanofilm.