Hydrogel wound dressings loaded with PLGA/ciprofloxacin hydrochloride nanoparticles for use on pressure ulcers

Abstract

The aim of this research study was to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels containing ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles as antibacterial materials capable of supporting the treatment of infected pressure ulcers. Either 6.25 mg, 39 mg, or 244 mg of CIP was loaded onto PLGA nanoparticles by using the double emulsion technique. The morphology of the resulting CIP-loaded PLGA nanoparticles was spherical, and the mean diameters were approximately 625.3–957.9 nm. Later, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels loaded with CIP/PLGA nanoparticles were prepared and crosslinked with gamma radiation. The greatest cumulative quantities released from the CIP/PLGA-loaded PVA hydrogels containing 6.25 mg, 39 mg, and 244 mg CIP were 43.38%, 79.75% and 94.63%, respectively. The CIP/PLGA nanoparticles and CIP/PLGA-loaded PVA hydrogels were observed to provide an effective antimicrobial response when exposed to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the performance in terms of cell viability had no adverse influence upon the absence of cytotoxicity, as indicated in tests carried out using normal adult human fibroblast cells. It was thus concluded that the CIP/PLGA-loaded hydrogels may be considered as potentially beneficial materials for application in wound dressings with antibacterial properties.