1Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, Bharat Institute of Pharmacy, Mangalpally (V), Ibrahimpatnam (M), R.R. Dist - 501510, Telangana.
2Assistant Professor, Vishwakarma University, School of Pharmacy, Kondwa, Pune, Maharashtra, 411048.
3*Research Scholar, Gautam College of Pharmacy, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, 177001. Email: dhananjaylandge33@gmail.com
4Research Scholar, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Saveetha College of Pharmacy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 602105, India. Orchid id: 0009-0006-1491-6708
5Professor, School of Pharmacy, Mangalayatan University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202146.
6Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Saveetha College of Pharmacy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 602105, India. Orchid id: 0000-0003-0802-7999
7Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, Vishwakarma University, Pune, Maharashtra.
8Assistant Professor, Rayat Bahra University, Mohali, Punjab, 140104.
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are chronic non-healing wounds characterized by persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, and delayed tissue regeneration. The present study aimed to develop and mechanistically evaluate an andrographolide-loaded nano-structured hydrogel (AG-NSH) for enhanced anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic activity in DFU management. Andrographolide, a bioactive diterpenoid from Andrographis paniculata, was incorporated into an oil-in-water nanoemulsion and subsequently embedded within a chitosan–Carbopol hydrogel matrix. The optimized nanoemulsion exhibited a mean particle size of 128.4 ± 6.3 nm, polydispersity index of 0.214 ± 0.02, zeta potential of −28.6 ± 1.9 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 87.2 ± 2.4%. The hydrogel demonstrated suitable pH (5.82 ± 0.12), pseudoplastic rheological behavior, and sustained drug release up to 48 hours following anomalous diffusion kinetics. Ex vivo studies confirmed enhanced dermal permeation with controlled flux. In vitro biological evaluation showed >85% cell viability in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. AG-NSH significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and COX-2 expression while restoring VEGF secretion and endothelial tube formation under hyperglycemic conditions. The dual anti-inflammatory and angiogenic modulation suggests that AG-NSH may offer a promising localized therapeutic approach for diabetic foot ulcer treatment.
Keywords: Andrographolide; Nano-structured hydrogel; Diabetic foot ulcer; Anti-inflammatory activity; Angiogenesis; Sustained release.
How to cite this article: Kumar YG, Kumawat JA, Ashok LD, Pavithra S, Katiyar NS, Punniyakotti S, Thakur A, Sharma D. Formulation and Mechanistic Evaluation of Andrographolide-Loaded Nano-Structured Hydrogel for Enhanced Angiogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Management. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 819-837; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.97
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None