title: Dendrimer encapsulation enhances anti-inflammatory efficacy of silver nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our previous studies revealed that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) promoted wound healing in part through their anti-inflammatory actions. As recent reports also suggested anti-inflammatory effects of dendrimers, we therefore undertook this study using dendrimer as the delivery system for AgNP to explore any potential synergistic anti-inflammatory efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to cultured RAW264.7 and J774.1 cells to mimic in vitro inflammation condition, followed by the addition of either silver dendrimer nanocomposite (Ag-DNC), AgNPs, or dendrimer. The levels of inflammatory markers TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 were assessed using ELISA assay. Furthermore, in vivo effects such of Ag-DNC, AgNPs, or dendrimer were studied in a burn wound model in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results confirmed that both naked dendrimer and AgNPs had anti-inflammatory properties. In in vitro study, Ag-DNC was shown to have the best anti-inflammatory efficacy than AgNPs or dendrimer alone. In-vivo experiments also indicated that animals in the Ag-DNC group had the fastest healing time with the least inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study would suggest that dendrimer could provide additional anti-inflammatory benefits and might be an excellent delivery system for silver nanoparticles for future clinical application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Xuelai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Nam
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical College, Ji Nan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yue Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: RuiZhong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: kkywong@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Kenneth K Y
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology; D002460:Cell Line; D050091:Dendrimers; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012834:Silver; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D050091:Dendrimers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012834:Silver
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Dendrimer; Drug delivery; Silver nanoparticles; Wound healing