Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Science
First Advisor
Mohammed Maniruzzaman
Second Advisor
Eman Ashour
Third Advisor
Michael Repka
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Chronic infected wounds remain a major clinical challenge because elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the wound microenvironment sustain inflammation, damage regenerating tissue, and limit the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy. To address this problem, this study aimed to develop ROS-responsive thioketal-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TK-MSNs) for the dual delivery of moxifloxacin (MOX) and curcumin (CUR) to support the management of infected wounds. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesised using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), followed by template removal, amino-functionalization with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and sequential loading of MOX and CUR. ROS-responsive capping was then achieved using 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS), creating a thioketal-based gatekeeper that releases its payload under oxidative conditions. The optimised TK-MSNs exhibited spherical morphology, stable colloidal properties, and successful confirmation of surface functionalization, drug loading, and thioketal capping. In vitro release studies demonstrated markedly enhanced drug release in the presence of H2O2, confirming ROS-triggered cleavage of the thioketal cap and controlled on-demand delivery. Overall, the thioketal-capped dual-drug-loaded MSN platform showed strong promise as a ROS-responsive nanomedicine for the treatment of chronically infected wounds.
Recommended Citation
Pothuraju, Saiganesh, "Development and Evaluation of Ros-Responsive Thioketal-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Dual Drug Delivery of Moxifloxacin and Curcumin in Wound Healing" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8866.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8866