Biogenic Gold Nanoparticles for Complete Recovery of Dermal Burn Wounds

Introduction: Despite developments in regenerative medicine areas, the skin burn recovery remained a burdensome problem in critical care. The aim of this study was to arrive at safe flavonoid anchored gold nanoparticles and... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: Despite developments in regenerative medicine areas, the skin burn recovery remained a burdensome problem in critical care. The aim of this study was to arrive at safe flavonoid anchored gold nanoparticles and investigating them in dermal burn wound animal models.
Methods: Flavonolignan Silymarin is a proclaimed antioxidant and immunostimulant available from Silybum marianum. One pot bio-catalytic technique was applied for silymarin conjugated gold nanoparticles synthesis. Course of the reaction was followed systematically in LCMS and the appearance of gold plasmonic response was recorded in time scale. Silymarin conjugated gold nanoparticles (SmAunp) were characterized in DLS, XRD, FTIR, TEM, FESEM and ICPMS. Burn wound experiments were run in mice as per the guidelines of IAEC, University of Calcutta (Registration No. 506/01/a/CPCSEA, 2009-2010) approval No 506/01/a/CPCSEA/CUTech03. Experimental burn wound was inflicted under ether anaesthesia and the animals in group of 10 were treated with 5 µl SmAunp in water (600 µg/ml), standard silver sulfadiazine or saline control solutions. Dorsal skin burn was inflicted with 10 mm circular brass probe, 20 sec exposure at 100 0C. Recovery or not was recorded over a fourteen days treatment period. Histopathology and tissue biochemistry were recorded in each group intermittently and at the end of the experiment.
Results: Molecular bio-organic conjugation was confirmed in final product LCMS and in FTIR studies. Particle plasmon response was recorded at 540 nm and the average size in TEM was observed at 12.07 nm. SAED pattern and XRD observations proved fcc crystalline structure for the metallic gold. SmAunp exhibited excellent healing properties like wound closure, granulation, and vascularisation in comparison to standard drug. Histological analysis showed significant epithelialization in wounds treated with SmAunp.
Discussion: Wound healing properties of bio safe gold nanoparticles are reported for the first time. SmAunp exerted appropriate cytokines regulation and it is likely that the stem cells in the remaining hair follicular bulge were activated due to SmAunp. Favourable antioxidant properties of SmAunps were another factor for accelerated recovery.
Acknowledgement: Financial support to Dr. Suvadra Das from University Grants Commission (Sanction no. F.15-1/2015-16/PDFWM-2015-17-WES-33815(SA-II)), Government of India is thankfully acknowledged.