Designing and evaluation of dermal targeted combinatorial nanostructured lipid carrier gel loaded with curcumin and resveratrol for accelerating cutaneous wound healing

A nanostructured lipid carrier containing combined curcumin (CUR) and resveratrol (RSV) was prepared and tested for its potential to accelerate wound healing through topical administration. Prepared nano lipid carrier (NLC) formulation had a particle size of 132.3 +/- 4.54 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.478, and zeta potential of -16.6 mV. Entrapment efficiency (EE) for CUR and RSV was found to be 94.21 +/- 0.28% and 84.61 +/- 0.15%, respectively. Drug loading was found to be 8.560 +/- 0.948% (for CUR) and 7.602 +/- 0.452% (for RSV). NLC formulation was converted to NLC gel by incorporation of Carbopol 934 for enhancing its dermal applicability. Flux and permeability coefficient for CUR and RSV in NLC gel was found to be 22.087 mu g/cm(2)/h, 11.299 mu g/cm(2)/h, and 0.2208, 0.1129, respectively, through goat ear skin and 19.213 mu g/cm(2)/h, 22.66 mu g/cm(2)/h and 0.1921, 0.2266, respectively, through Strat-M (TM) membrane. Dermatokinetic study revealed significant enhancement in C-skin max and AUC(0-12h) in skin sample treated with NLC gel in comparison with plain gel. Also, NLC gel showed longer retention time which indicates prolonged drug action at targeted site thus, NLC gel may show better therapeutic efficacy than plain gel.