Aim: This work aims to formulate topical hybrid gel containing chitosan-coated moxifloxacin (MXF) HCl nanoparticles (NPs) with enhanced antibacterial and healing activity.
Methods: MXF HCl NPs prepared by the ionic gelation method were loaded onto a hybrid chitosan carbomer gel. Size analysis of the prepared NPs was performed using SEM and Zeta-sizer. Further characterisation was done using Fourier transforms infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Prepared gel was evaluated for its in vitro drug release, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and stability studies under storage conditions. In-vivo wound healing was measured by observing percentage reduction in wound.
Results: NPs have 359 ± 79 nm mean particle size, 31.01 mV zeta potential with 0.008 polydispersity index (PD1), 63.5% drug entrapment and 83 ± 3.5% drug release at pH 5.5. Hybrid chitosan carbomer gel showed good biocompatibility, antibacterial, in-vivo wound healing properties and stable properties.
Conclusions: NP-loaded hybrid gel can be an effective treatment for acute and challenged topical wounds.
Keywords: Moxifloxacin HCl; antibacterial; chitosan; nanoparticles; wound healing.