Samaneh Bayat - Scool of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Akram Rabbani Zabihi - Scool of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Sara Amel Farzad - Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Jebreel Movafagh - Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Ezzat Hashemi - Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
Sepideh Arabzadeh - Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Maryam Hashemi - Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s): Bromelain, a mixture of proteolytic enzymes from pineapple (Ananas comosus) is known as a potential debriding agent in burn treatment. In this research, the debridement efficiency of chitosan hydrogel loaded by sodium alginate-chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) containing bromelain (Br ۱۰%-AG-CS NPs) was evaluated in animal models. Materials and Methods: The NPs were prepared using the ionic gelation technique and their properties were identified. Then, the debridement effect of bromelain NPs incorporated into chitosan hydrogel was evaluated ۴ hr after wound treatment in animal models. Results: The particle size of positively charged Br-AG-Cs NPs was about ۳۹۰±۲۵ nm. The encapsulation efficiency of bromelain into AG-CS NPs was about ۹۲%. The in vitro release profile showed that the maximum release of bromelain from NPs occurred during the first ۴ hr (۷۰%). The hydrogel structure did not significantly affect the profile release of bromelain in the formulation. After ۶ months of storage at ۴ and ۲۵ °C, the synthesized NPs indicated no significant changes in bromelain activity. It was found that Br ۱۰%-Ag-Cs NPs-CS hydrogel had the most beneficial effects on reducing necrotic tissues and resulted in re-epithelialization compared with other treated groups (negative and positive control, CS hydrogel, and Br ۱۰%-CS hydrogel). Conclusion: Therefore, using this novel formulation can be considered a potential debridement agent.

Bromelain, Chitosan, Debridement, Nanoparticles, Sodium alginate