Sains Malaysiana 53(9)(2024): 3183-3195

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5309-22

Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Chinese Herbal Compound Extract and Hyaluronic Acid-Chitosan Quaternary Ammonium Salt Microspheres for Topical Application: Preparation and Characterization

(Hidrogel Termosensitif Mengandungi Ekstrak Sebatian Herba Cina dan Asid Hialuronik-Kitosan Mikrosfera Garam Amonium Kuaterner untuk Penggunaan Topikal: Penyediaan dan Pencirian)

PEIYANG LI1, JIANHAO ZHAO2, JUNLIN WANG1 & HONG NIE1*

¹State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, 601 Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, 510632, China

² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

Received: 21 April 2024/Accepted: 5 August 2024

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a highly prevalent allergic inflammatory dermatosis with persistent severe pruritus. Zhi-Yang-Fang (ZYF), a topical Chinese herbal compound used in clinical practice for treating ACD, has certain drawbacks such as inconvenience in use and its impact on aesthetics. This research aimed to overcome these shortcomings by developing an F127/F68-based thermosensitive hydrogel containing ZYF aqueous extract and hyaluronic acid-chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (HA-HTCC) microspheres. The 19 major components of ZYF aqueous extract were preliminarily identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to Quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap-MS) analysis. HA-HTCC microspheres and HA-HTCC microspheres containing ZYF aqueous extract were prepared using the physical cross-linking method, and the success of the preparation was confirmed through a series of characterisations. The concentration of F127 and F68 was screened. The proportions of each substance in the final hydrogel formulation were determined, prepared using the cold method, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a rotational rheometer. These technologies verified the successful preparation, temperature sensitivity, and stability of the hydrogel. The hydrogel developed may be considered a promising approach for the management of ACD.

Keywords: Allergic contact dermatitis; Chinese herbal compound extract; microspheres; thermosensitive hydrogel; topical application

Abstrak

Dermatitis hubungan alahan (ACD) adalah dermatosis keradangan alahan yang sangat lazim dengan pruritus teruk yang berterusan. Zhi-Yang-Fang (ZYF), sebatian herba Cina topikal yang digunakan dalam amalan klinikal untuk merawat ACD, mempunyai kelemahan tertentu seperti kesulitan yang digunakan dan kesannya terhadap estetika. Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengatasi kekurangan ini dengan membangunkan hidrogel termosensitif berasaskan F127/F68 yang mengandungi ekstrak akueus ZYF dan mikrosfera garam amonium asid hyaluronik-kitosan (HA-HTCC). Sembilan belas komponen utama ekstrak akueus ZYF dikenal pasti awal menggunakan kromatografi cecair berprestasi ultra tinggi ditambah dengan analisis spektrometri jisim Orbitrap Quadrupole-Exactive (UPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap-MS). Mikrosfera HA-HTCC dan mikrosfera HA-HTCC yang mengandungi ekstrak akueus ZYF disediakan menggunakan kaedah penghubung silang fizikal dan kejayaan penyediaan telah disahkan melalui satu siri pencirian. Kepekatan F127 dan F68 telah ditayangkan. Perkadaran setiap bahan dalam formulasi hidrogel akhir ditentukan, disediakan menggunakan kaedah sejuk dan dicirikan menggunakan imbasan mikroskop elektron (SEM), spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR) dan rheometer putaran. Teknologi ini mengesahkan penyediaan yang berjaya, kepekaan suhu dan kestabilan hidrogel. Hidrogel yang dibangunkan boleh dianggap sebagai pendekatan yang berpotensi untuk pengurusan ACD.

Kata kunci: Dermatitis hubungan alahan; ekstrak sebatian herba Cina; hidrogel termosensitif; mikrosfera; penggunaan topikal

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*Corresponding author; email: hongnie1970@163.com