The design of colorimetric sensing materials with low detection limits, and high stability are considered as important parameters in the development of ammonia (NH3) sensors. In this research, we present a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) based on Trimesic Acid and Co(II) (TMA-Co(II)) as the sensing material. The color detection of MOF upon exposure to NH3 was detected by Visible (VIS) fiber spectrometer, developed on the integrated circuit C12880MA of HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS, which is an integrated mini spectrometer operating in the spectral range between 340-850 nm. The activated TMA-Co(II) MOF demonstrated a limit detection of 60 ppm and the time of response ranged from 2 min to 12 min depending on the NH3 concentration. The sensor showed outstanding stability and reversibility in the cyclic test. It was easily recoverable by interaction with acid.

This study aimed to develop a semisolid vehicle for topical delivery of nanoencapsulated St. John’s wort (SJW) extract, rich in hyperforin (HP), and explore its wound-healing potential. Four nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were obtained: blank and HP-rich SJW extract-loaded (HP-NLC). They comprised glyceryl behenate (GB) as a solid lipid, almond oil (AO), or borage oil (BO) representing the liquid lipid, along with polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (PSMO) and sorbitan monooleate (SMO) as surfactants. The dispersions demonstrated anisometric nanoscale particles with acceptable size distribution and disrupted crystalline structure, providing entrapment capacity higher than 70%. The carrier exhibiting preferable characteristics (HP-NLC2) was gelled with Poloxamer 407 (PM407) to serve as the hydrophilic phase of a bigel, to which the combination of BO and sorbitan monostearate (SMS) organogel was added. The eight prepared bigels with different proportions (blank and nanodispersion-loaded) were characterized rheologically and texturally to investigate the impact of the hydrogel-to-oleogel ratio. The therapeutic potential of the superior formulation (HP-NLC-BG2) was evaluated in vivo on Wistar male rats through the tensile strength test on a primary-closed incised wound. Compared with a commercial herbal semisolid and a control group, the highest tear resistance (7.764 ± 0.13 N) was achieved by HP-NLC-BG2, proving its outstanding wound-healing effect.