Can green synthesized propolis loaded silver nanoparticulate gel enhance wound healing caused by burns?

IntroductionNanotechnology can offer new opportunities in the fight against infection. The aim of current work was to investigate an eco-friendly method for synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) which have the ability to load lipophilic compounds onto their surface.MethodsPharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic lipid (Gelucire® 50/13) has been used as a reducing agent for in situ reduction of silver nitrate so as to obtain silver nanoparticles. Propolis is used as model molecule for loading onto surface of AgNP owing to its well reported broad range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Propolis loaded silver nanoparticles (PLSN) were prepared and characterized for silver content, surface plasmon resonance, particle size, XRD, FTIR, TEM, antibacterial activity and burn wound healing in wistar rats.ResultsPropolis constituents were successfully loaded onto surface of AgNP using the proposed conceptual method. The formation of PLSN having size 24.3 ± 2.5 nm was confirmed using surface plasmon resonance, FTIR, XRD and TEM. The combination of propolis with AgNP significantly reduced minimum inhibitory concentration of AgNP alone when tested against Staphylococcus aureus. PLSN gel showed comparable burn wound healing in wistar rats when tested against marketed silver sulfadiazine gel.ConclusionThe use of Gelucire® as solubilizing agent for lipophillic drugs was effectively utilized for loading lipophillic constituents of propolis onto the AgNP. This potentially provides an effective method for the green synthesis of AgNP which can be used to load lipophillic molecules onto their surface whenever such combination is required.

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