Design of antibiotic containing hydrogel wound dressings: Biomedical properties and histological study of wound healing

Keeping in view the antioxidant nature of the acacia gum and mucoadhesive nature of carbopol hydrogels, in the present studies, an attempt has been made to explore the potential of these materials in designing new hydrogel wound dressings meant for slow release of gentamicin, an antibiotic drug, and to enhance the wound healing potential. The hydrogel films were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD and swelling studies. Biomedical properties of hydrogel films like blood compatibility, antioxidant activity, mucoadhesion, antimicrobial activity, oxygen/water vapour permeability, microbial penetration and mechanical properties (tensile strength, burst strength, resilience, relaxation, and folding endurance) have been evaluated. The histological studies of wound healing were also carried out on swiss albino mice of strain Balb C and it has been observed that in case of wounds covered with hydrogel dressings shown faster wound healing, formation of well developed fibroblasts and blood capillaries as compared to open wounds. The results of biomedical properties indicated that hydrogel films are non-thrombogenic, non-haemolytic, antioxidant and mucoadhesive in nature, and are permeable to oxygen and moisture while impermeable to micro-organisms. The hydrogel wound dressings have absorbed (8.772 ± 0.184 g/g film) simulated wound fluid. Release of gentamicin drug from wound dressings occurred through Fickian diffusion mechanism in simulated wound fluid.