Tetracycline hydrochloride loaded-alginate based nanoparticle-hydrogel beads for potential wound healing applications: In vitro drug delivery, release kinetics, and antibacterial activity

Abstract

Novel hydrogel beads based on nanocomposite with outstanding antibacterial and swelling capabilities have been successfully produced as an efficient drug carrier for potential drug delivery systems in wound healing applications. The beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and EDX-Mapping analysis. Then, using tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) as a model drug system, they were studied in vitro for their potential efficiency as pH and temperature dependent sustained drug delivery carriers. Moreover, they were assessed in terms of porosity, swelling degree, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release kinetics. Beads released drugs at their highest levels under alkaline circumstances (pH = 8) and at a temperature of 39 °C, with a cumulative TCH release of 96.2 % at 36 h and in accordance with the Weibull kinetics model (R² = 0.98). Additionally, the disc diffusion experiment demonstrated the strong antibacterial activity of the synthesized beads and offered a feasible and cost-effective wound dressing material for treating infected wounds.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Nanoparticle-hydrogel beads; Wound healing.