Nanoparticles studied to enhance activity of ointments and creams

Senior Research Associate of KFU’s Bionanotechnology Lab Svetlana Konnova, winner of Russian Presidential scholarship, works on new composite nanomaterials with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

“Such nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications as diclofenac and ibuprofen are effective in mitigating inflammation symptoms and acute pain and have proved their usefulness in treating serious illnesses like rheumatoid osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, Bartter syndrome, and migraines,” explains Konnova. “However, these drugs are not easily water-soluble and are slowly absorbed by tissues, which affects their efficacy. Encapsulating medications into halloysite, an inorganic clay nanomaterial consisting of hollow nanotubes, can increase their bioavailability and solubility and allows for prolonged gradual release of the drugs and continuous influence on inflammation symptoms.”

Ointments and creams with halloysite nanocontainers can have both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. This is due to nanotubes being modified by silver nanoparticles.

“Halloysite nanotubes cannot penetrate skin and will remain on its surface after a medication is applied. The active substance will be gradually released and have a prolonged healing effect by reducing inflammation and edema,” continues the researcher.

Konnova’s topic “Medicines based on clay nanoparticles and biopolymers with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity” is aimed at creating a technology to produce containers for medications based on halloysite nanotubes, biopolymers, and metallic nanoparticles.

 

Source text: Larisa Busil

Photo: Svetlana Konnova

Translation: Yury Nurmeev