Development and Characterization of Squalene-Loaded Topical Agar-Based Emulgel Scaffold: Wound Healing Potential in Full-Thickness Burn Model

Abstract

Full-thickness burns pose a major challenge for clinicians to handle because of their restricted self-healing ability. Even though several approaches have been implemented for repairing these burnt skin tissue defects, all of them had unsatisfactory outcomes. Moreover, during recent years, skin tissue engineering techniques have emerged as a promising approach to improve skin tissue regeneration and overcome the shortcomings of the traditional approaches. Although previous literatures report the wound healing effects of the squalene oil, in the current study, for the first time, we developed a squalene-loaded emulgel-based scaffold as a novel approach for potential skin regeneration. This squalene-loaded agar-based emulgel scaffold was fabricated by using physical cross-linking technique using lecithin as an emulsifier. Characterization studies such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed the amorphous nature, chemical interactions, and cross-linked capabilities of the developed emulgel scaffold. The squalene-loaded emulgel scaffold showed excellent wound contraction when compared with the agar gel and negative control. In case of the histopathology and recent immunohistochemistry findings, it was clearly evidenced that squalene-loaded emulgel promoted faster rate of the revascularization and macrophage polarization in order to enhance the burn wound healing. Moreover, the findings also revealed that the incorporation of squalene oil into the formulation enhances collagen deposition and accelerates the burnt skin tissue regeneration process. Finally, we conclude that the squalene-loaded emulgel scaffold could be an effective formulation used in the treatment of the burnt skin tissue defects.

Topical Antimicrobial Microparticle-Based Polymeric Materials for Burn Wound Infection

“…The main advantage of histological analysis is to understand burn degree level and depth. 23,46,47 Another analysis conducted in burn analysis is related to the bioadhesivity. This test is performed to determine how long the preparation is in contact with the skin.…”

Overview of Emulgel as Emergent Topical Delivery: Recent Applications and Advancement

“…Shanmugarajan TS, et al [16], developed a squalene loaded emulgel-based system as a approach for potential skin regeneration. They concluded that the squalene-loaded emulgel scaffold could be an effective formulation used in the treatment of the burnt skin tissue defects.…”

Emulgel based on fish skin collagen‐microalgae‐silver increased neovascularization and re‐epithelialization of full thickness burn in rats

“…9,[15][16][17] Natural polymers such as collagen, gelatin, pectin, and cellulose are preferentially used as gelling agents in emulgel formulations because of their high availability and varied chemical compositions. [17][18][19][20][21] Collagen from bovine and swine is widely used in biomedical application because of its proven favorable physical and biological properties, and its extraction process involve good laboratory practices with careful processing and sterilization protocols. However, the risk of zoonoses transmission, such as spongiform encephalopathy (from bovine), and religious issues are still considered limiting factors.…”

“…The gelling agent is a polymer that forms a porous matrix, which contributes to the stability of the emulgel and facilitates the controlled release of bioactive molecules, making it a potential biomaterial to be used as treatment for skin burns 9,15–17 . Natural polymers such as collagen, gelatin, pectin, and cellulose are preferentially used as gelling agents in emulgel formulations because of their high availability and varied chemical compositions 17–21 …”