Sponge-like characteristic of cellulose hydrogel for transport of rosmarinic acid nanoemulsion

Abstract

Hydrogel has porous and sponge-like structure that can be used as a drug carrier to delivery drugs. In this study, rosmarinic acid (RA) with excellent therapeutic properties was encapsulated in a drug-carrier nanoemulsion and subsequently loaded into the sponge-like cellulose hydrogel derived from pineapple leaves fiber and Orthosiphon aristatus stem fiber. The scope of research was to determine the loading and unloading of bioactive compounds encapsulated with nanoemulsion in the sponge-like structure of cellulose hydrogel. Based on physical observation, the rosmarinic acid-encapsulated nanoemulsion (RANE) and RANE-loaded cellulose hydrogel appeared less turbid as the surfactant concentration increased. Besides, the pH of RANE decreases as surfactant concentration increases, but turns neutral after immobilized into the porous structure of cellulose hydrogel. Changes in the pH and appearance of hydrogel show that RANE has been loaded and demonstrate its usability as a drug carrier. From the RA release profile, increase of surfactant concentration increases the rate and amount of RA released, but all formulations showing prolonged release. In summary, the sponge-like of cellulose hydrogel enables the loading–unloading of therapeutic RANE into/from its porous structure could potentially be applied as drug carrier for wound dressing.