Objective: This study aimed to prepare an astragalus polysaccharide liposome formulation to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of astragalus polysaccharide in treating chemotherapy-induced anemia. Significance: The significance of this study lies in its ability to increase the drug exposure of astragalus polysaccharides in bone marrow tissue, thereby improving their efficacy in treating chemotherapy-induced anemia. Methods: Liposomes were prepared using the thin-film dispersion method, and their characteristics were verified. Subsequently, pharmacokinetic studies were conducted using animal experiments to calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters and to compare the pharmacodynamics of astragalus polysaccharide liposomes with free polysaccharides. Results: Data showed that the prepared astragalus polysaccharide liposome had a particle size of 291.23 ± 19.63 nm, a zeta potential of -37.75 ± 0.35 mV, and a polydispersity index of 0.24 ± 0.03, indicating good stability and biocompatibility. By comparing the pharmacokinetic parameters of astragalus polysaccharides and their liposomes, and analyzing the concentration changes in plasma and bone marrow, it was found that liposomes could increase the drug concentration in bone marrow. Animal experiments indicated that astragalus polysaccharide liposomes could enhance the anti-chemotherapy anemia effects of astragalus polysaccharides from multiple dimensions, including blood routine, organ index, oxidative stress factors, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Conclusion: Liposome-based formulations can prolong drug circulation time and thereby enhance the passive distribution and exposure of astragalus polysaccharides in the bone marrow, strengthening their anti-chemotherapy anemia effect.

Continuous counter-current extraction (CCE) is vital for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturing. However, traditional offline detection of key turmeric efficacy indicators-total curcuminoid (TC) and antioxidant activity (AA)-lags behind dynamic production needs. While near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers online monitoring, current approaches mostly lack simultaneous tracking of compositional and pharmacodynamic parameters and suffer from suboptimal deep learning hyperparameter tuning. To address this, we simulated industrial CCE using a lab-scale tubular apparatus. Following parameter screening via fractional factorial design (FFD) and process optimization through Box-Behnken design (BBD), dynamic NIR spectral data were collected under optimal conditions. We developed a hybrid convolutional neural network and long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) model, optimized by the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), for real-time dual-indicator monitoring. Its predictive performance was compared against partial least squares regression (PLSR) and standard CNN-LSTM models. The SSA-CNN-LSTM model demonstrated superior accuracy. On the external validation set, it achieved a determination coefficient of prediction (R2p) of 0.944 and a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.99% for AA, alongside an R2p of 0.961 and an RMSEP of 0.47 mg/mL for TC. This study marks the first successful simultaneous monitoring of compositional and pharmacodynamic parameters during CCE, offering a robust dual-oriented process analytical technology (PAT) solution for continuous TCM production.

Skin aging results from the synergistic assault of extrinsic environmental factors and intrinsic biological processes. While traditional microsphere implants promote skin rejuvenation through collagen regeneration, their clinical utility is hampered by non-biodegradability and risks such as granuloma formation. To overcome these limitations, this study employed microfluidic technology to develop highly uniform, novel injectable, highly bioactive, and degradable Astragalus polysaccharide/silk fibroin (APS/SF) composite microspheres for subcutaneous filling to promote collagen regeneration. We performed 3D simulations of droplet formation in a microfluidic chip using ANSYS Fluent to visualize the process. Experimental results indicated that these microspheres exhibited unprecedented uniformity (CV = 4.22% < 5.00%) and circularity (0.90 ± 0.01), and degraded effectively in phosphate-buffered saline solutions. Furthermore, the microspheres demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and blood compatibility. In vitro experiments confirmed their ability to significantly promote the proliferation and migration of L929 fibroblasts. In vivo animal studies further indicated that implanted microspheres effectively induced collagen regeneration. Collectively, this research highlighted the significant therapeutic potential of APS/SF microspheres as an innovative and safe biomaterial for skin rejuvenation.

Noble-metal-free NiO–MoO 2 –CeO x nanoparticles immobilized on a ZIF-8-derived N–C support with a strong synergistic effect exhibit outstanding hydrazine hydrate dehydrogenation performance with a remarkable initial TOF of 45.3 mol H 2 mol cat. −1 h −1 .

Current dermal fillers for anti-aging often suffer from issues like inflammation induction and uncontrollable drug release, limiting their clinical application. Astragaloside/polycaprolactone/chitosan (AS/PCL/CS) composite microspheres were fabricated using coaxial microfluidic technology. These materials have excellent biocompatibility and pH-dependent drug release properties, which can safely and effectively promote subcutaneous collagen regeneration. This study systematically evaluated the microspheres' morphology, particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, in vitro release behavior, hemolytic activity, cell proliferation, and adhesion capabilities. In vivo pharmacodynamic experiments were conducted to assess inflammatory responses and collagen regeneration. Results showed successful preparation of AS/PCL/CS composite microspheres with a smooth spherical morphology, an average particle size of (49.62 +/- 5.84) mu m, and a high encapsulation efficiency of 92.67 +/- 1.22%. The microspheres exhibited pH-dependent drug release properties, while hemolytic and cell viability tests confirmed their blood and tissue compatibility. Notably, the composite microspheres outperformed both PCL microspheres and AS/PCL composite microspheres in cell adhesion and proliferation. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies revealed that microsphere implantation facilitated collagen fiber regeneration while reducing inflammatory responses. Therefore, AS/PCL/CS composite micro-spheres show promise as potential carriers for pH-responsive controlled-release drug delivery systems and as candidate materials for tissue regeneration applications.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common disease of pulmonary fibrosis with an increasing incidence. Silk fibroin peptides (SFPs) are bioactive substances rich in essential amino acids and possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, their application is limited by drawbacks such as low bioavailability and susceptibility to protein degradation. In this study, spray-drying technology was employed to prepare a silk fibroin peptides dry powder inhaler (SFPs-DPI), followed by characterisation of its physicochemical properties and preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies. The results showed that the yield of SFPs-DPI was 56.86 ± 1.80%, the Carr's index was 25.64 ± 1.71%, the aerodynamic diameter was 2.26 ± 0.04 μm, the moisture content of 0.74%, and the emptying rate was 93 ± 1.61%. In vitro studies demonstrated that SFPs-DPI exhibits good cellular biocompatibility and antioxidant activity. In vivo pharmacodynamic results showed that SFPs-DPI reduced inflammatory infiltration and collagen fibre deposition in the lungs of IPF mice and reduced the expression of type I collagen and α-SMA in lung tissue. Therefore, the physicochemical properties of the SFPs-DPI prepared in this study meet the relevant requirements for dry powder inhalation formulations, providing a preliminary reference for research related to IPF treatment.

Silicosis, a common occupational lung disease with irreversible pulmonary fibrosis and currently incurable, is a vital public health problem. Astragaloside IV (AS) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects, but its poor water solubility and low bioavailability limit the application of the drug. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a dry powder inhalation formulation of AS and to investigate its therapeutic efficacy on silica-induced silicosis fibrosis in mice via pulmonary administration. We prepared AS dry powder inhaler (AS-DPI) by spray drying technique and characterized its properties. MH-S cells were used for in vitro pharmacodynamic studies. In the in vivo efficacy study, a mouse model was established with SiO2, and H&E and Masson trichrome staining performed histopathological analysis. The characterization results showed that the yield of AS-DPI was 46.56 f 3.89 %, the vibrational density was 0.12 f 0.01 g/cm3, the Carr's index was 21.00 f 2.86 %, the aerodynamic diameter was 1.18 f 0.06 mu m, the water content was 1.83 %, the emitted dose was 91.23 f 0.34 %, the fine particles fraction was 23.90 f 0.43 %, and there was no interaction between the drug and the excipients. In vitro CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay showed that AS-DPI had good biocompatibility and increased the activity of MH-S cells after being stimulated by SiO2. In vivo pharmacodynamic results showed that AS-DPI effectively reduced inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs of mice with silicosis. Therefore, the AS-DPI prepared in this study has good properties and possesses the potential to resist silicosis.

The complex microenvironment of wounds, along with challenges such as microbial infections, tissue damage, and inflammatory responses during the healing process, renders wound repair a complex medical issue. Owing to their ease of administration, effective outcomes, and painless application, biomacromolecule-based wound dressings have become a focal point in current clinical research. In recent years, hydrogels, microneedles, and electrospun nanofibers have emerged as three novel types of wound dressings. By influencing various stages of healing, they have notably enhanced chronic wound healing outcomes and hold considerable potential for wound repair applications. This review describes the preparation methods, classification, and applications of hydrogels, microneedles, and electrospun nanofibers around the various stages of wound healing, clarifying the healing-promoting mechanisms and characteristics of the three methods in different stages of wound healing. Building upon this foundation, we further introduce smart responsiveness, highlighting the application of stimuli-responsive wound dressings in dynamic wound management, aiming to provide insights for future research.

Infectious burn wounds are characterized by substantial exudate and inflammation. Ordinary wound dressings struggle to absorb substantial exudate. In this study, a color-changeable and separable polylactic acid/polyvinylpyrrolidone/chitosan tri-layer self-pumping dressing containing astragalus polysaccharide was developed. The dressing had an outer layer of polyacrylonitrile/polyvinylpyrrolidone/CoCl2 nanofiber, a middle layer of polylactic acid/polyvinylpyrrolidone/chitosan nanofiber, and an inner astragalus polysaccharide drug-carrying layer. It could unidirectionally absorb wound exudate and change color after absorbing exudate. In addition, after absorbing the exudate, the outer layer of the dressing could be separated, the remaining double layers consisted of a drug layer and antimicrobial chitosan promoted wound healing and reduced infection. The water absorption rate of the tri-layer nanofibers reached 2770.70 ± 122 % per time, and the water vapor transmission rate was 4585.99 ± 65 g∙m-2∙day-1. The nanofiber dressing promoted the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of L929 cells. After treating burn-infected rats with this dressing for 14 days, the rats' collagen content and anti-inflammatory levels increased. In conclusion, the color-changeable and separable polylactic acid/polyvinylpyrrolidone/chitosan tri-layer self-pumping dressing containing astragalus developed in this study can effectively accelerate wound healing.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres are effective in stimulating collagen regeneration. However, the local inflammation they induce upon subcutaneous injection, particularly during the initial post-injection phase, cannot be overlooked. In this study, we designed and fabricated Astragaloside (AS)-loaded PCL microspheres using microfluidic technology for subcutaneous injection to promote collagen regeneration. The incorporation of AS and the application of microfluidic technology endowed the AS/PCL microspheres with a significantly reduced incidence of initial inflammation, thereby enhancing their safety profile. We prepared the AS/PCL microspheres via microfluidic technology and conducted characterization alongside in vitro and in vivo studies. Results demonstrated that the AS/PCL microspheres exhibited a circularity index of 0.90 ± 0.03, an average particle size of 30.45 ± 5.49 μm, and the polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.26 ± 0.03. The AS/PCL microspheres significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of L929 fibroblasts. In vivo pharmacodynamic studies revealed that the inclusion of AS effectively mitigated the initial inflammatory response triggered by PCL microspheres and promoted superior collagen regeneration. Consequently, the microfluidically fabricated AS/PCL microspheres developed in this study demonstrate enhanced safety and efficacy for subcutaneous injection in promoting collagen regeneration.

As a crucial extraction process in traditional Chinese medicine, quality control of percolation still faces challenges in real-time monitoring methods. To address this challenge, this study focused on the Astragalus percolation process and established an NIRS-based method for synchronous online monitoring of two bioactive markers in Astragalus percolates: Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs) and calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (CG), achieving rapid and nondestructive analysis. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) spectra were collected online at different time points during percolation to determine APS and CG concentrations by means of NIRS technology, with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) used as reference methods. Two modeling approaches-partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector regression (SVR)-were employed to establish quantitative analytical models for these bioactive components, with model performance optimized through spectral preprocessing and feature variable selection. Results demonstrated that SVR-based models achieved superior predictive accuracy compared with PLSR. The optimal APS model showed calibration and validation set R-2 values of 0.9995 and 0.9874, respectively, while the CG model yielded 0.9811 (calibration) and 0.9632 (validation). Both components exhibited residual prediction deviation (RPD) values exceeding the threshold (RPD > 3), with 6.5349 for APS and 3.8357 for CG, confirming excellent predictive capability. Paired t-test analysis of external test sets (p > 0.05) revealed no statistically significant difference between measured and predicted values, further validating the model's robustness for unknown sample prediction. The concentrations of APS and CG in the Astragalus percolation solution can be simultaneously determined by this method within 30 s, significantly improving analytical efficiency compared with the conventional method (60-80 min per sample), while featuring simple operation, solvent-free consumption, low cost, and pollution-free advantages. This study demonstrates that the combination of NIRS and chemometrics enables real-time monitoring of multiple key substance concentrations during the percolation process. As a green analytical technology, NIRS shows significant potential for improving production efficiency and ensuring product quality consistency.

Diabetic wound is often a chronic wound with complex healing process and long healing time. It is evident that conventional dressings are inadequate in promoting the healing of diabetic wounds. In this study, a novel nanofiber dressing, produced through coaxial electrostatic spinning technology, was created to facilitate the healing of diabetic chronic wounds. This dressing was composed of Astragaloside (AS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polylactic acid (PLA). The morphology of the nanofiber dressing was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Confirmation of the core–shell structure was done with the help of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A pharmacodynamic study was conducted both in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the nanofibers were approximately 604.83 ± 127.96 nm and with a core–shell structure. Additionally, in vitro drug release experiments revealed that the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings had a first rapid and then slow release property. Antioxidant activity experiment showed that the free radical scavenging rate of Astragaloside-loaded nanofibers reached 61 %. Mechanical tests also indicated that the nanofibers had an elastic modulus of 38.37 ± 1.81 MPa. Coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings had good antimicrobial activity, and its diameter of the circle of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus was 17.17 ± 2.04 mm, and its diameter of the circle of inhibition against Escherichia coli was 6.80 ± 0.78 mm. In addition, the findings of in vitro cellular tests showed that coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings could promote the multiplication, adhesion and the migration ability of L929 fibroblasts with better biocompatibility. Finally, the wound healing rate of diabetic rats in the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressing group was 96.54 ± 0.29 % on day 14. Consequently, the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings prepared by coaxial electrostatic spinning technique had satisfactory morphology, met the requirements of performance, and had the potential to be developed as a dressing for improving diabetic chronic wound healing.

Diabetic wound is often a chronic wound with complex healing process and long healing time. It is evident that conventional dressings are inadequate in promoting the healing of diabetic wounds. In this study, a novel nanofiber dressing, produced through coaxial electrostatic spinning technology, was created to facilitate the healing of diabetic chronic wounds. This dressing was composed of Astragaloside (AS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polylactic acid (PLA). The morphology of the nanofiber dressing was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Confirmation of the core-shell structure was done with the help of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A pharmacodynamic study was conducted both in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that the nanofibers were approximately 604.83 +/- 127.96 nm and with a core-shell structure. Additionally, in vitro drug release experiments revealed that the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings had a first rapid and then slow release property. Antioxidant activity experiment showed that the free radical scavenging rate of Astragalosideloaded nanofibers reached 61 %. Mechanical tests also indicated that the nanofibers had an elastic modulus of 38.37 +/- 1.81 MPa. Coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings had good antimicrobial activity, and its diameter of the circle of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus was 17.17 +/- 2.04 mm, and its diameter of the circle of inhibition against Escherichia coli was 6.80 +/- 0.78 mm. In addition, the findings of in vitro cellular tests showed that coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings could promote the multiplication, adhesion and the migration ability of L929 fibroblasts with better biocompatibility. Finally, the wound healing rate of diabetic rats in the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressing group was 96.54 +/- 0.29 % on day 14. Consequently, the coaxial AS/PVP/PLA nanofiber functional dressings prepared by coaxial electrostatic spinning technique had satisfactory morphology, met the requirements of performance, and had the potential to be developed as a dressing for improving diabetic chronic wound healing.

The wound dressing plays an important role in wound repair as a medical textile that temporarily replaces the skin. However, ordinary wound dressings can only cover wounds and supply a protecting function for wounds, cannot meet some special requirements of chronic wounds, especially diabetic wounds. To overcome these drawbacks, in this study, a novel AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing was developed to promote diabetic wound healing by electrostatic spinning technology. The pharmacodynamics of AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressings were evaluated. In in vitro pharmacodynamic experiment, the effect of the dressing on cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell adhesion to the dressing was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the cell migration ability promoted by the dressing was evaluated by an in vitro cell scratch test. In in vivo pharmacodynamic experiment, we established a skin wound model in diabetic rats. On the 7th and 15th days, we collected tissue samples from both the surrounding area and the wound area. The expressions of CD31 and TGF-beta beta in wound tissue were detected by H&E &E and Masson three-color staining, respectively. The results showed that the AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing could promote cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. It also increased collagen deposition and granulation tissue formation at wound. Moreover, it promoted the expression of CD31 and TGF-beta beta factors at early stage, thereby accelerating wound healing. Our results indicated that the AS/ CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing have a potential as a treatment material to accelerate diabetic wound healing.

In this study, multivesicular liposomes (MVLs) were prepared by microfluidic technology and used for delivering gastrodin (GAS), a water-soluble drug, across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The formulations and preparation parameters in preparing gastrodin multivesicular liposomes (GAS-MVLs) were both optimized. Some properties of GAS-MVLs including morphology, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release were evaluated. An in vitro BBB model was established by coculturing mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3) and astrocytes (C8-D1A). The permeability of GAS-MVLs across the BBB model was evaluated. Finally, the permeability of GAS-MVLs across BBB was evaluated by in vivo pharmacokinetics in mice. The concentrations of GAS in the blood and brain were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then brain-targeting efficiency (BTE), relative uptake rate (Re), and peak concentration ratio (Ce) were calculated. The results showed that, using a Y-type microfluidic chip and setting the flow rate ratio of the second aqueous phase to the W/O emulsion phase at 23, with a total flow rate of 0.184 m/s, the prepared GAS-MVLs showed an obvious multivesicular structure and a relatively narrow distribution of particle sizes. The prepared GAS-MVLs were spherical with a dense structure. The average particle size was 2.09 ± 0.17 μm. The average encapsulation rate was (34.47 ± 0.39)%. The particle size of MVLs prepared by the microfluidic method was much smaller than that prepared by the traditional method, which was usually larger than 10 μm. After 6 h from the beginning of the administration, the apparent transmittance of GAS-MVLs in the in vitro BBB model was 67.71%, which was 1.92 times higher than that of the GAS solution. In vivo pharmacokinetic study showed that the intracerebral area under curve (AUC) of GAS-MVLs was 5.68 times higher than that of the GAS solution, and the e peak concentration (Cmax) was 2.036 times higher than that of the GAS solution. BTE was 1.945, intracerebral Re was 5.688, and Ce was 2.036. Both in vitro and in vivo experiment results showed that GAS-MVLs prepared by microfluidic technology in this study significantly delivered GAS across BBB and enriched GAS in the brain. It provides a possibility for brain-targeting delivery of GAS in the prevention and treatment of central nervous system diseases by oral administration and lays the foundation for further development of oral brain-targeted preparations of GAS.

Some skin wounds often have many exudate. Ordinary single layer electrospunning nanofiber wound dressings often don't have enough capacity to absorb them. Therefore, a separable double layer electrospunning nanofiber dressing was developed in this work. The dressing had a separable feature that allowed the upper layer to be separated and removed after it had absorbed a significant amount of wound exudate. This dressing consisted of an upper layer of super hydrophilic sodium polyacrylate nanofibers and a bottom layer of 3D-structure coaxial nanofibers with encapsulated Astragaloside (AS). The results showed that nanofibers had better morphology. The water absorption rate, water vapor transmission rate and free radical scavenging rate of the double-layer dressings were 1461.71 +/- 39.72 %, 1193.63 +/- 134 g center dot m(-2)center dot day(-1), and 63.35 +/- 3.65 %, respectively. The double-layer nanofiber dressing achieved 65.69 +/- 2.62 % and 75.10 +/- 6.26 % inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. The double-layer dressing had proliferative, migratory, and adhesive effects on L929 fibroblasts. And the double-layer dressing resulted in a 96.78 +/- 1.0 % wound healing rate in rats after giving a 14 days treatment. Therefore, the 3D-structure separable double-layer wound dressing designed and prepared in this study was effective in promoting wound healing.

The wound dressing plays an important role in wound repair as a medical textile that temporarily replaces the skin. However, ordinary wound dressings can only cover wounds and supply a protecting function for wounds, cannot meet some special requirements of chronic wounds, especially diabetic wounds. To overcome these drawbacks, in this study, a novel AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing was developed to promote diabetic wound healing by electrostatic spinning technology. The pharmacodynamics of AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressings were evaluated. In in vitro pharmacodynamic experiment, the effect of the dressing on cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell adhesion to the dressing was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the cell migration ability promoted by the dressing was evaluated by an in vitro cell scratch test. In in vivo pharmacodynamic experiment, we established a skin wound model in diabetic rats. On the 7th and 15th days, we collected tissue samples from both the surrounding area and the wound area. The expressions of CD31 and TGF-β in wound tissue were detected by H&E and Masson three-color staining, respectively. The results showed that the AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing could promote cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. It also increased collagen deposition and granulation tissue formation at wound. Moreover, it promoted the expression of CD31 and TGF-β factors at early stage, thereby accelerating wound healing. Our results indicated that the AS/CS/PLA nanofiber functional dressing have a potential as a treatment material to accelerate diabetic wound healing.

Aralia chinensis L. is a traditional Miao ethnic medicine known for its pain and inflammation relief and its ability to dispel wind and dampness. This study aimed to assess its antitumour activity and identify the chemical constituents of A. chinensis essential oils. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyse the volatile oil composition, which identified 35, 35, and 24 constituents in essential oils from roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. Network pharmacology predicted the possible key targets of common components in breast-cancer treatment, which revealed AKT1, SRC, EGFR, STAT3, and MAPK3 as high-priority targets with high active-constituent affinity. CCK-8 assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of the essential oils on MCF-7 breast-cancer cells, with oils from Aralia rhizomes, stems, and leaves inhibiting cell viability by 77%, 64%, and 62%, respectively. The active components of Aralia essential oils show promise for breast-cancer treatment by targeting AKT1, SRC, EGFR, and other key factors.

ObjectiveIn order to improve the dissolution property of quercetin (QCT), the quercetin nanocrystals (QNCs) were prepared in this study.MethodsQNCs were prepared by a 100 mu m diameter Y-shape microfluidic channel. Some impact factors affecting the generation of QNCs such as concentration and flow rate were investigated. Furthermore, the fluid mixing in the microfluidic channel was simulated by fluid software.ResultsXRPD and DSC analyses indicated that the prepared QNCs were amorphous. Stable QNCs with a particle size of 77.9 +/- 3.63 nm and polydispersity index of 0.26 +/- 0.02 were obtained. TEM showed that the as-prepared QNCs had a uniform spherical shape with an average particle size of about 100-300 nm. In the dissolution medium without cosolvent Tween -80, the dissolution of QCT was poor, its final accumulated dissolution was only 3.95%, while that of QNCs was 66%.ConclusionWhen QCT was changed to QNCs by microfluidic technology, its dissolution property could be obviously improved. Therefore, microfluidic technology as a new method to prepare nanocrystals has a good applying prospect in improving dissolution property for poorly water-soluble drugs.

ObjecteivesThe purpose of this study was to prepare an antibacterial, antioxidant, and biocompatible bilayer nanofibrous wound dressing by using electrospinning.MethodsThe micromorphology and bilayer structure characteristics of the GA-Qe-PVP-PCL nanofibers were analyzed by SEM. The physicochemical characteristics were analyzed by XRD and FTIR. The uptake, mechanical properties, water contact angle, water vapor transmission and in vitro drug release were evaluated. In addition, the effect of antibacterial, antioxidant and biocompatability of the nanofibers were evaluated, respectively.ResultsThe SEM results showed that the GA-Qe-PVP-PCL nanofibers had a smooth surface, no beading phenomenon, and a prominent bilayer structure. The diameter and porosity of the drug-loading layer and waterproof support layer of the nanofibers were 842 +/- 302 nm, 242 +/- 50 nm, and 88.56 +/- 1.67%, 94.49 +/- 1.57%, respectively. Moreover, the water uptake, mechanical properties, water contact angle, and water vapor transmission showed ideal performance. The results of in vitro drug release indicated that GA and Qe were both released rapidly, which was conducive to accelerating wound healing. The GA-Qe-PVP-PCL nanofibers exhibited antibacterial effects against both bacteria as well as high antioxidant activity. Additionally, the GA-Qe-PVP-PCL nanofibers possessed good compatibility, could promote the proliferation, adhesion, and migration of L929 fibroblast cells.ConclusionThe nanofibers we developed met the requirements of ideal materials for wound dressing, which makes the nanofibers the potential to be a wound dressing for wound care.