Gelatin‐carbohydrate phase‐separated hydrogels as bioactive carriers in vaginal delivery: Preparation and physical characterizations |
| |
| Authors: | Vinay Kumar Singh Sai Sateesh Sagiri Kunal Pal Shankar M. Khade Dillip K. Pradhan Mrinal K. Bhattacharya |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India;2. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India;3. Department of Botany and Biotechnology, Karimganj College, Karimganj, Assam, India |
| |
| Abstract: | The current study focuses on the alteration of properties of the gelatin hydrogels using polysaccharides (e.g., maltodextrin, dextran, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) for probable use in vaginal delivery of antimicrobials. The hydrogels were prepared by varying the proportions of gelatin and polysaccharides and were characterized by microscopy, mechanical testing, and impedance spectroscopy. Metronidazole (MZ), drug of choice for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, was incorporated within the hydrogels. In vitro release studies of MZ from the hydrogels was studied in‐depth using modified Franz's diffusion cell. Antimicrobial efficiency of the MZ‐loaded hydrogels was tested against E. coli and B. subtilis. The results suggested that the incorporation of polysaccharides resulted in the phase‐separated hydrogels. The properties of the hydrogels was found be suitable for vaginal delivery. The drug release and antimicrobial efficiency from the hydrogels suggested that the developed hydrogels may be used for the delivery of antimicrobials in the vaginal lumen. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40445. |
| |
| Keywords: | biomaterials dielectric properties differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) drug delivery systems gels |
|
|
