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Hydrogels attract increased interest as wound dressings due to their biomimetic properties, creating a moist environment conducive to natural wound healing. In this study, a PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG hydrogel incorporating cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and lemongrass essential oil (LG) into the polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol/glycerin (PVA-PEG/gly) hydrogel via the freeze-thaw method was developed. The addition of CNFs and LG aimed to improve the physicochemical and antibacterial aspects of the hydrogel. Optimal hydrogel composition, determined through response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD), consisted of 3.5% (w/v) CNFs and 3% (v/v) LG concentrations, resulting in an optimal moisture retention capability (MRC) of 37.69 ± 0.54%. The optimized PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG demonstrated impressive characteristics: a swelling capacity of 176.89 ± 1.56%, a gel fraction of 78.89 ± 0.42%, and a porosity of 47.51 ± 0.53%. FESEM images revealed the relatively porous nature of PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG hydrogels. Furthermore, the hydrogel exhibited excellent resistance against S. aureus and B. subtilis bacteria, along with notable tensile properties of 1.44 MPa. These findings underscore the promising attributes of the PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG hydrogel, positioning it as a versatile and effective wound-healing dressing with significant antimicrobial properties. ABSTRAK: Hidrogel mendapat perhatian ramai sebagai pembalut luka di sebabkan oleh ciri-ciri biomimik, di mana menghasilkan persekitaran lembab yang baik bagi penyembuhan luka secara semula jadi. Kajian ini, mencadangkan hidrogel PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG yang mengandungi selulosa nanofiber (CNF) dan minyak pati serai (LG) dalam hidrogel polivenil alkohol-polietilin glikol/gliserin (PVA-PEG/gly) melalui kaedah beku-cair. Penambahan CNFs dan LG diperlukan bagi memperbaiki aspek fisiokimia dan antibakterial hidrogel. Komposisi optimal hidrogel, dibentuk melalui kaedah respons permukaan (RSM) dan reka bentuk komposit pusat (CCD), mengandungi 3.5% (w/v) CNFs dan 3% (v/v) kepekatan LG, menghasilkan kemampuan retensi kelembapan optimal (MRC) sebanyak 37.69 ± 0.54%. Kadar optimum PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG menunjukkan ciri-ciri yang menarik: iaitu kapasiti pembengkakan sebanyak 176.89 ± 1.56%, pecahan gel sebanyak 78.89 ± 0.42%, dan keliangan 47.51 ± 0.53%. Imej FESEM menunjukkan sifat keliangan semula jadi hidrogel PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG. Tambahan, hidrogel memiliki rintangan tinggi terhadap bakteria S. aureus dan B. subtilis, sejajar dengan ciri-ciri ketara tegangan 1.44 MPa. Dapatan kajian ini penting bagi ciri-ciri hidrogel yang berpotensi besar seperti PVA-PEG/gly-CNF-LG, menjadikannya serba guna dan berkesan sebagai balutan penyembuhan luka dengan ciri-ciri antimikrob yang ketara.

Aquilaria malaccensis has been traditionally used to treat several medical disorders including inflammation. However, the traditional claims of this plant as an anti-inflammatory agent has not been substantially evaluated using modern scientific techniques. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Aquilaria malacensis leaf extract (ALEX-M) and potentiate its activity through nano-encapsulation. The extract-loaded nanocapsules were fabricated using water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion method and characterized via multiple techniques including DLS, TEM, FTIR, and TGA. The toxicity and the anti-inflammatory activity of ALEX-M and the extract-loaded nanocapsules (ALEX-M-PNCs) were evaluated in-vitro on RAW 264.7 macrophages and in-vivo on zebrafish embryos. The nanocapsules demonstrated spherical shape with mean particle diameter of 167.13 ± 1.24 nm, narrow size distribution (PDI = 0.29 ± 0.01), and high encapsulation efficiency (87.36 ± 1.81%). ALEX-M demonstrated high viability at high concentrations in RAW 264.7 cells and zebrafish embryos, however, ALEX-M-PNCs showed relatively higher cytotoxicity. Both free and nanoencapsulated extract expressed anti-inflammatory effects through significant reduction of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS/IFNγ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and zebrafish embryos in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings highlight that ALEX-M can be recognized as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, and its anti-inflammatory activity can be potentiated by nano-encapsulation. Further studies are warranted toward investigation of the mechanistic and immunomodulatory roles of ALEX-M.

Antimicrobials receive a great response in agriculture industries. Rapid growth of agriculture products has encouraged huge development of antimicrobial agent to improve growth and health of animals and plants. This paper focuses on the applications of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics which have been widely used in plants and crops, poultry, aquamarine, and livestock production to inhibit microbial infection by various types of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Research related to disease treatment and prevention in agriculture product through proper use of antimicrobial agents is very crucial due to the emergence of bacterial resistance towards antimicrobial drugs. Global concern on the spread of bacterial resistance has gained interest on the research for high potential of antimicrobial agent such as essential oil as it is claimed to have strong antimicrobial activity and safe for humans, animals and plants.