NANOSPONGES BASED HYDROGEL CONTAINING ESSENTIAL OIL FOR WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY

The present study was aimed at incorporation of Frankinsense oil in nanosponges based hydrogel for wound healing activity. The oil was incorporated in nanosponges by the emulsion solvent diffusion method using different combinations of hydrophilic polymers like HPMC K15M, Poly vinyl alcohol, agar, hydrophobic polymers like ethyl cellulose, eudragit S100 and dichloromethane as crosslinking agent. Prototypes A3, D1 and E were selected based upon the yield Further screening was done based on morphology (SEM images), particle size (8.829μm, 0.567μm, 17.416μm resp.) and entrapment efficiency (49.01%, 81.75%, 34.71%) and Prototype E1 was selected for optimization. Optimization was done by using 3² factorial design with design expert software and formulations F1 to F9 were developed. Using entrapment efficiency as the response, contour plot and surface response curve were plotted. GC analysis of dried sample of nanosponge formulation reflected all major constituents present in the oil concluding that the constituents of the oil were unaffected by the formulation process. Optimized nanosponges were incorporated in hydrogels and tested for viscosity (67,666 Centipoise), spreadability (0.57g/cm²/sec), pH (4.84) and in-vitro release study (around 100% in 8 hours). From wound healing study using albino Wistar rats for 14 days, it was seen that there was sufficient contraction in the wound area in test group (77%) as compared to control group (50%). From this is concluded that Frankincense oil can be effectively used for wound healing property in the form of nanosponge based hydrogels.