Eco synthesized chitosan/zinc oxide nanocomposites as the next generation of nano-delivery for antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic potential, and chronic wound repair

Abstract

The present research work aimed at synthesizing chitosan-coated Zinc oxide nanocomposites ( NS -CS/ZnONCs) by a bio-inspired method using an aqueous extract of Nigella sativa ( NS ) seeds and employing a quality-by-design approach (Box-Behnken design) . The biosynthesized NS -CS/ZnONCs were physicochemically characterized and subjected to their in-vitro and in-vivo therapeutic potential. The zeta potential value of −11.2 mV and −12.6 mV indicated the stability of NS -mediated synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles ( NS -ZnONPs) and NS -CS/ZnONCs, respectively. The particle size of NS -ZnONPs and NS -CS/ZnONCs were 288.1 nm and 130.2 nm, respectively, with PDI of 0.198 and 0.158. NS -ZnONPs and NS -CS/ZnONCs showed superior radical scavenging abilities, excellent α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Also, NS -ZnONPs and NS -CS/ZnONCs demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against selected pathogens. Furthermore, NS -ZnONPs and NS -CS/ZnONCs demonstrated significant ( p < 0.001 ) wound closure with 93.00 ± 0.43 % and 95.67 ± 0.43 % on the 15 th day of treatment at the dose of 14 mg/wound, compared to 93.42 ± 0.58 % of standard. Collagen turnover was represented by hydroxyproline , which was shown to be significantly ( p < 0.001 ) higher in the NS -ZnONPs (60.70 ± 1.44 mg/g of tissue) and NS -CS/ZnONCs (66.10 ± 1.23 mg/g of tissue) treatment groups than in the control group (47.7 ± 0.81 mg/g of tissue). Thus the NS -ZnONPs and NS -CS/ZnONCs could effectively develop promising drugs to inhibit pathogens and chronic tissue repair.