Silver sulfadiazine loaded breathable hydrogel sponge for wound healing

Abstract

ObjectivesPatients with serious injury need special care and treatment to control the infection, as wound sepsis is one of the major causes of death. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is widely used as an antimicrobial agent which promotes healing and re-epithelialization. However, due to certain drawbacks such as inflammation and cytotoxicity, the need for novel drug delivery modality emerges. The objective of this study was to develop natural polymeric (chitosan and gelatin) hydrogel sponges containing SSD and evaluate its efficacy in wound healing using animal models.MethodsSSD containing hydrogel sponges were prepared by solvent casting technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to evaluate morphological characteristics of the hydrogel sponges. Anti-thrombogenic property, drug release studies, drug release kinetics, antimicrobial property, and wound healing effect were also studied in detail.ResultsThe optimized batch of hydrogel sponges (CG4) consists of 1% SSD wt., 10% wt. Gelatin, 1% wt. Chitosan and honey 7.5% wt. as plasticizer. At the 12th hour, in vitro and ex vivo drug release was found to be 76.994±0.67% and 24.22±0.57% respectively. CG4 batch had enhanced in vitro antimicrobial activity as compared to conventional marketed cream. The developed SSD hydrogel sponges showed a faster rate of wound healing as compared to a marketed cream. Animals treated with CG4 formulation showed complete angiogenesis and re-epithelialization by 8th day, whereas 12 days were required for complete wound healing with marketed cream.ConclusionsThe prepared hydrogel sponges can serve as a potential alternative for wound healing dressing as compared to the marketed product.

Wound healing applications of creams and “smart” hydrogels

“…Silver sulphadiazine‐based hydrogels were shown to have enhanced antimicrobial activity as opposed to commercially available creams and promoted faster wound healing (8 days instead of 12), with complete angiogenesis and re‐epithelization. 90 …”

“…89 Silver sulphadiazine-based hydrogels were shown to have enhanced antimicrobial activity as opposed to commercially available creams and promoted faster wound healing (8 days instead of 12), with complete angiogenesis and re-epithelization. 90 The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles are well known, but their use in wound treatment was restricted by intrinsic cytotoxic effects that reflected in skin staining, irritation and burning at wound site. Using a mix of sericin and chitosan-capped silver nanoparticles, scientists were able to develop an efficient wound dressing, with excellent wound healing and antimicrobial properties.…”

3D Printed Chitosan/Alginate Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Silver Sulfadiazine in Wound Healing Applications: Design, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity

“…Moreover, SSD has been demonstrated to be effective also against multidrug-resistant organisms [ 21 , 22 ]. The development of active dressings able to control SSD release over time is of great interest for applications in wound healing, as demonstrated by the several publications reported on this topic [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. By considering about 70 published papers on the use of SSD in wound healing, an interesting review demonstrated, through a random effects model, that healing goes faster (−2.72 days; 95% confidence interval: −4.99, −0.45) in SSD-treated groups when compared to the control group over 21 days [ 29 ].…”