Carvacrol (CAR), with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, can support chronic wound healing to revert to its normal healing process. However, CAR exhibited hydrophobic, volatile, and potentially skin-irritating properties, which limit its use. This study will formulate CAR into a nanostructured lipid carrier (CAR-NLC) to overcome these problems and evaluate its activity. The CAR-NLC formula was prepared using the hot homogenization-ultrasonication method, and the characterization result showed particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and drug loading values of 174.5 ± 1.2 nm, 0.31 ± 0.04, −24.83 ± 5.51 mV, 98.46% ± 0.07%, and 42.20% ± 0.03%, respectively, with round or oval morphology. An in vitro drug release study showed CAR release from the NLC matrix following a biphasic pattern with a cumulative release of 70.17% ± 3.11% for 24 hours. The CAR-NLC formula showed better antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activity than its free solution form via in vitro testing. Moreover, the CAR-NLC formula showed a wound closure percentage of 97.56% ± 1.48% on day 15, which was significantly better than the control in the in vivo diabetic wound healing study in mice.
Key words: Antibacterial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, carvacrol, diabetic wound healing, nanostructured lipid carrier.
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