Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40386462›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2025

Supramolecular nanofibers of natural asiaticoside for self-supporting gelation and enhanced transdermal delivery.

Xixi Hu, Shuang Tian, Jiao Wang, Weixi Luo, Jiangli Yao, Rui Zhu, Yiyuan Dai, Hongyun Li, Yuhua Ma, Chen Liu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xixi Hu *College of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Shuang Tian *College of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jiao WangCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Weixi LuoCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jiangli YaoCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Rui ZhuCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yiyuan DaiCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Hongyun LiCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yuhua MaKey Laboratory for Tibet Plateau Phytochemistry of Qinghai Province, School of Pharmacy, Qinghai Nationalities University, Xining, Qinghai, China.
Chen LiuGeneral Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.
Wenping WangCollege of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to develop a supramolecular hydrogel of asiaticoside (AS) via self-assembly and evaluate its potential for enhanced transdermal delivery. Materials and Methods: AS was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dispersed into a glycerol-water mixture (3:7 v/v) via ultrasonication to induce gelation. The critical gelation concentration (CGC) was determined through macroscopic and microscopic evaluation. Morphological analysis was performed using various microscopy techniques. Physicochemical properties were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with general AMBER force field (GAFF) parameters were used to analyze assembly dynamics. Rheological behavior and transdermal performance were tested using a rheometer and Franz diffusion cells, respectively. Results: The hydrogel formed at a CGC of 0.5% w/v, exhibiting pH-responsive gelation and a nanofibrous architecture. MD simulations revealed hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking as the dominant drivers of assembly, supported by FTIR peak shifts. The hydrogel demonstrated shear-thinning behavior (G' > G″) and thermal stability below 70°C. Compared to the AS suspension, the hydrogel enhanced transdermal flux by 1.73-fold and skin retention by 2.04-fold, attributed to supersaturated drug molecules and sustained release from the nanofiber network. Conclusion: This work pioneers the use of AS as a natural supramolecular gelator, addressing its bioavailability challenges through nanostructured self-assembly. The hydrogel's dual functionality (pH-responsive gelation and enhanced permeation) offers a sustainable platform for the transdermal delivery of hydrophobic phytochemicals, bridging phytochemistry and nanobiotechnology. This strategy expands the application of plant-derived saponins in advanced drug delivery systems.

Indexed as

asiaticosidemolecular dynamics simulationnatural product gelatorself-assembled nanofiberssupramolecular hydrogeltransdermal drug delivery

Identifiers

PMID40386462
PMCPMC12081450

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.