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With rising skin cancer rates and interest in preventing photoaging, adjuvants for sunscreens are in high demand. The potential of curcumin has been posited due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound healing properties. In prior studies, curcumin decreased UV-induced inflammation, apoptotic changes in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. However, curcumin's utility has been hindered by poor aqueous solubility and rapid degradation in vivo. To overcome these limitations, we synthesized curcumin nanoparticles (curc-np), which offer sustained topical delivery and enhanced bioavailability. Curc-np and controls were applied to the skin of BALB/c mice prior to UVB irradiation. Twenty-four hours later, mice pre-treated with curc-np showed less erythema, induration and scale compared to controls. Histopathology showed fewer sunburn cells, and TUNEL assay indicated decreased apoptosis in curc-np treated mice. Immunohistochemistry illustrated less p53 expression in skin pre-treated with curc-np. Furthermore, cytokine analysis revealed significantly less IL-6 and significantly greater anti-inflammatory IL-10 in skin of curc-np-treated mice as compared to controls. Taken together, our results reinforce curcumin's established anti-inflammatory effects in the skin and highlight its potential as a photoprotective adjuvant when delivered through nanoparticles. Further investigation alongside sunscreens against UV-induced damage is warranted.

Despite the emergence of various new wound care products, millions of people continue to suffer from complications associated with acute and chronic wounds. Nanomaterials offer a variety of strategies to accelerate wound closure and promote appropriate progression through the stages of healing, which will be detailed in this review. The small size of nanomaterials enhances penetration and permeation of tissues and lends a large surface area-to-volume ratio, ideal for topical drug delivery. Furthermore, nanofibers may be utilized to create nanoscaffold wound dressings that simulate the topographic appearance of endogenous extracellular matrix, thereby stimulating wound reepithelialization and collagen production. Together, nanomaterials offer many approaches to reduce the morbidity associated with acute and chronic wounds, as demonstrated by a substantial body of pre-clinical data. Future investigations should aim to address the paucity of human clinical trial data, essential for translating wound-healing benefits from bench to bedside.

Poor wound healing is a major source of morbidity and mortality for millions of diabetic patients. Diabetic wounds can lead to severe infections, prolonged hospitalizations, amputations and an overall markedly decreased quality of life. Diabetic wounds fail to heal secondary to several perturbations in the wound healing process. Here, we present a review of the direct barriers to diabetic wound healing as well as innovative therapeutic options to improve outcomes in diabetic wounds.

Nitric oxide (NO), an essential agent of the innate immune system, exhibits multi-mechanistic antimicrobial activity. Previously, NO-releasing nanoparticles (NO-np) demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity when combined with glutathione (GSH) due to formation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a transnitrosylating agent. To capitalize on this finding, we incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, with NO-np to form SNO-CAP-np, nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril. In the presence of GSH, SNO-CAP-np demonstrated increased transnitrosylation activity compared to NO-np, as exhibited by increased GSNO formation. Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were highly susceptible to SNO-CAP-np in a dose-dependent fashion, with E. coli being most susceptible, and SNO-CAP-np were nontoxic in zebrafish embryos at translatable concentrations. Given SNO-CAP-np's increased transnitrosylation activity and increased E. coli susceptibility compared to NO-np, transnitrosylation rather than free NO is likely responsible for overcoming E. coli 's resistance mechanisms and ultimately killing the pathogen. From the Clinical Editor This team of authors incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, into a nitric oxide releasing nanoparticle system, generating nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril, with pronounced toxic effects on MRSA and E. coli in the presented model system.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:13:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-10-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Systemic therapies are preferred for treating dermal dermatophytosis due to inadequate penetration of topical agents. However, systemic antifungals are associated with off-target effects and limited tissue penetration, and antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern. To address this, we investigated topical nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles (NO-np), which have been used against superficial fungal infections and bacterial abscesses. In addition to enhanced penetration and permeation conferred by nanoparticles, nitric oxide, a broad-spectrum multi-mechanistic antimicrobial agent, offers decreased likelihood of resistance development. In the current study, NO-np inhibited Trichophyton rubrum in vitro, as well as in a murine model of dermal dermatophytosis. In mice, NO-np reduced fungal burden after three days, with complete clearance after seven. Furthermore, NO-np decreased tissue IL-2, 6, 10 and TNFα, indicating earlier attenuation of the host inflammatory response and decreased tissue morbidity. Thus, topical NO-np represent an attractive alternative to systemic therapy against dermal T. rubrum infection. Department of Medicine (Division of Dermatology) Albert Einstein College of Medicine Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) Albert Einstein College of Medicine Departamento de Análises Clínicas Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Department of Microbiology & Immunology Albert Einstein College of Medicine Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy Programa de Inmunología Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Chile Department of Physiology & Biophysics Albert Einstein College of Medicine Department of Dermatology George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences Departamento de Análises Clínicas Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) CNPq: 150261/2016-0 CAPES: 99999.007910/2014-02

Nanomaterials are materials that measure on the nanoscale (1–100 nm) or materials that contain nanoscale structures internally or on their surfaces. They include nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, nanoemulsions, nanoscaffolds, nanopigments, and quantum dots, to name a few, which can be engineered with a variety of chemical compositions and surface characteristics. Nanodermatology, an emerging field, employs nanomaterials for diagnostic, therapeutic, and cosmetic applications in dermatology. Nanomaterials demonstrate potential for medical and commercial benefit due to their large surface area, unique surface reactivity, and ability to overcome stability–solubility barriers of active agents via nanoencapsulation and sustained-release activity. Furthermore, their capacity for molecular targeting and selective accumulation within tissues can enhance the specificity of current interventions. To capitalize on the benefits of nanomaterials, which have been demonstrated in numerous recent studies, clinical trials are needed to determine their clinical translatability. The development of standardized methodology for determining nanomaterial safety in humans is also warranted.