Open Access

ARTICLE

Development of Calopogonium mucunoides PEGylated Solidified Reverse Micellar Suspensions: Polymer-Matrix Design for Sustainable Wound Application

Edith O. Diovu¹, Calister E. Ugwu^2,*, Eunice N. Anaele^3,*, Samuel WisdomofGod Uzondu⁴, Ogochukwu N. Umeh², Iheanacho O. Enyum², Kingsley C. Eze², Godswill C. Onunkwo², Anthony A. Attama⁵
1 Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
3 South-East Zonal Biotechnology Centre/Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
4 Nanosciences and Advanced Materials Programme, Federal University of ABC, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
5 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
* Corresponding Authors: Calister E. Ugwu. Email: calister.ugwu@unn.edu.ng; Eunice N. Anaele. Email: ngozi.anaele@unn.edu.ng
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Polymer Materials for Tissue Engineering and Cell Encapsulation)

Journal of Polymer Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2026.077511

Received 10 December 2025; Accepted 27 April 2026; Published online 12 June 2026

Abstract

Polymer-lipid hybrid-based solidified reverse micellar suspensions (SRMs) have gained increasing interest for topical drug delivery due to their ability to enhance solubility, stabilize bioactive compounds, and achieve sustained skin permeation. In this study, PEGylated SRMs were developed using a beeswax: Phospholipon 90H lipid matrix to enhance the solubility, stability, bioavailability, and wound-healing properties of a lipophilic extract of Calopogonium mucunoides (CM). PEG: lipid matrix ratios (1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) were formulated and designated as CM1–CM5, with an unloaded matrix (CM6) as control. Physicochemical characterization included encapsulation efficiency (EE%), spreadability, pH, viscosity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). In vitro release and excision wound-healing assays were also conducted. PEGylated CM.SRMs demonstrated tunable polymer-matrix interactions influencing drug loading and release behavior. The CM5, with the highest lipid content, showed maximum EE (77%) and optimal rheological properties for skin retention. FTIR and DSC confirmed successful molecular dispersion of CM within the polymer-lipid matrix without chemical incompatibility. SEM revealed rough and porous structures that supported prolonged and sustained release, with particle sizes in the nanoscale (27.02 nm), and release rates ranging from 48% to 90% over 6 h, depending on the PEG: lipid ratio. In vivo, CM.SRMs achieved significantly accelerated wound contraction (~99%) and enhanced epithelialization compared to the standard treatment (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that PEGylated polymer-lipid SRMs can improve bioavailability and provide sustained therapeutic action of phytochemicals at the wound site. This polymer-engineered delivery system offers a promising, sustainable alternative for wound management, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, the histological and other biomarkers-based validation are recommended.

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Keywords

Calopogonium mucunoides; solidified reverse micellar suspensions; PEGylation; wound healing; beeswax; polymer-lipid matrix

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