Neohesperidin-loaded microemulsion for improved healing of Acinetobacter baumannii-infected wound

A wound is a complicated process that eventually induces marked tissue destruction, frequently complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. The chief goal of this investigation was to evaluate the plausible wound-healing action of neohesperidin. This was extended to explore the potential of microemulsion systems to boost its wound-healing activity. Two microemulsion systems of wheat germ oil were prepared and characterized. The nominated systems employed tween 80 as surfactant and capryol 90 as co-surfactant at weight ratios of 2:1 and 1:1. The cutaneous wound healing potential of the selected systems in the presence and absence of neohesperidin load were assessed in vivo employing experimentally induced wound model in rats. The induced dorsal skin wounds were additionally infected with Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria. The results reflected a promising wound healing potential of neohesperidin-loaded microemulsion systems and a significant reduction in the infected wound's bacterial count. The selected systems induced significant up-regulation of transforming growth factor (TGF-β), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), collagen-I, and cytokeratin-14 (K14), while metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kabba B (NF-ĸB) levels were reduced. The wound-healing impact of neohesperidin could be confirmed via its angiogenesis, re-epithelization, collagen deposition, and antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. [Display omitted] •Wheat germ oil microemulsions improve wound healing potential of neohesperidin.•Neohesperidin formulations significantly upregulated multiple growth factors.•Neohesperidin loaded nano-systems promoted wound re-epithelization.•Neohesperidin formulations revealed superior anti-inflammatory effects.