Topical delivery of gel-in-oil emulsion cocktail with growth factors for the treatment of diabetic pressure ulcers

Abstract

Healing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) poses a serious challenge for many individuals with diabetes. The use of biomaterials applied locally for treating DFUs has recently garnered significant attention. Here, we present a gel-in-oil nanogel dispersion (G/O-NGD) capable of local delivery of six different growth factors (GFs) via the topical route, followed by an in-vivo evaluation in mice. Both macroscopic and microscopic changes in skin structure were evidented after topical application of GF-cocktail G/O-NGD, and changes in CD68 and CD31 levels and collagen content were measured. Expression and synthesis of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming GF beta 1 (TGF-β1), and basic fibroblast GF (bFGF) were also analyzed. The results showed that a significant reduction in ulcer area, restoration of skin structure, increase in collagen content, angiogenesis, and suppression of inflammation were possible with GF-cocktail G/O-NGD, indicating that G/O-NGD is a prospective carrier for local delivery of GF, improving wound healing processes.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Diabetic pressure ulcer; Gel-in-oil emulsion; Growth factors; Topical delivery.