Publication: Formulation and evaluation of nanoemulgel (in situ) nigella sativaloaded carbon dots for potential periodontal treatment: an in vitro study
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Date
2025-08
Authors
Bhavikatti, Shaeesta Khaleelahmed
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Abstract
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition of the gingiva and/or periodontium resulting in destruction of attachment apparatus and subsequently tooth loss. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate the biological properties of a novel nanoemulgel in-situ (NEG-IS) drug delivery system incorporating Nigella sativa essential oil (NSEO) and carbon dots (CDs). Essential oil was extracted from Nigella sativa (N. sativa) seeds by hydro-distillation method. CDs were green synthesized from ginger by hydrothermal method. To obtain optimum concentration of NSEO and CDs for nanoemulgel formulation, optimization was performed using three different NSEO:CDs ratios; 9:1, 1:1, 1:9 and assessed for antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. NEG-IS gelling system was formulated by optimization using a three level (low, medium and high) with two factors (poloxamer and carbopol) full factorial design, that included a statistical design with nine runs. The phytochemical constituents’ analysis for NSEO was performed using Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS/MS) followed by the analytical characterization using UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, FT-IR Spectroscopy and Zeta Potential (ZP) measurement. CDs characterization included particle size evaluation, fluorescence profiling, HR-TEM, SEM-EDX, AFM, XRD, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, FT-IR Spectroscopy and ZP measurement. Physico-chemical characterization of NEG-IS was done to assess its pH, viscosity, gelation time, gelation temperature, spreadability, syringeability and in-vitro gelling capacity. Other characterizations included globule size distribution, in-vitro drug release kinetics, UV-Vis spectroscopy FTIR and ZP measurement. Further stability studies for NEGIS were performed for a period of 1.5 months. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties against selected oral, fungal and periodontal pathogens were assessed for NSEO, CDs and NEG-IS. Cytotoxicity of NSEO, CDs and NEG-IS was assessed over human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cell lines. Presence of 17 bioactive compounds in NSEO was confirmed by GC-MS/MS. CDs exhibited mean particle size of 2.9 nm and other characterization results confirm presence of CDs. NEG-IS exhibited adequate physico-chemical characteristics and sustained release of the drug for up to 12 hours, which followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas (K-P) model kinetics that aligns with Fickian tendencies. NEG-IS was stable at elevated temperature and room temperature with no significant changes in gel appearance. NSEO, CDs and NEG-IS exhibited significant biological properties and had less cytotoxicity effects over HGF cell lines. The developed NEG-IS formulation showed biological properties in-vitro with the potential to be utilized as therapeutic formulation in future clinical studies
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