Advanced Bioinspired Silver Nanoparticles Integrated into Polyherbal Gel for Enhanced Diabetic Foot Ulcer Regeneration.

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe diabetic complication, frequently resulting in infections and amputations. The current research focuses on the development and assessment of a synergistic nano-herbal formulation based on green-synthesized silver nanoparticles and a polyherbal gel for the efficient treatment of DFUs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were green-synthesized using aqueous extracts of Tagetes erecta (Marigold) and Portulaca oleracea (Purslane). They were further blended with a polyherbal gel formulation to improve antimicrobial and wound-healing activities. AgNPs were synthesized using aqueous plant extracts and characterized through UV-Visible spectrophotometry (SPR peaks: 439 nm for T. erecta, 427 nm for P. oleracea), FT-IR (O-H stretching at 3610 cm⁻¹, 3687 cm⁻¹), XRD (semi-crystalline structure), and DLS (particle sizes: 311 nm and 304 nm, zeta potentials: -19.7 mV and -20.1 mV, respectively). Antimicrobial studies showed strong inhibition against S. aureus (21 mm, 20 mm) and K. pneumoniae (22 mm) for AgNPs. The polyherbal gel, incorporating extracts of Ficus racemosa, Emblica officinalis, Curcuma longa, Carica papaya, Terminalia bellerica, Acacia catechu, and Aloe vera, achieved 85% wound closure in diabetic rats by day 16, compared to 60% (untreated) and 95% (povidone iodine). AgNP-antibiotic combinations reached 90% healing. HbA1c levels remained unchanged, indicating glucose-independent healing. These findings suggest that AgNP-polyherbal formulations could serve as a sustainable and effective DFU treatment, enhancing antimicrobial activity and promoting tissue regeneration.