Polysaccharides Sterculia Gum/Psyllium Based Hydrogel Dressings for Drug Delivery Applications

Keeping in view the advantages of hydrogel based wound dressing, the present work explore the potential of sterculia gum and psyllium polysaccharides to prepare the moxifloxacin loaded hydrogel wound dressings for better wound care. The polymers were characterized by cryo scanning electron microscopy (cryoSEM), atomic force microscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and swelling studies. Evaluation of drug release mechanism and kinetic model from the polymer matrix was performed along with some biomedical properties of hydrogel dressing including wound fluid absorption, blood-compatibility, antioxidant activity, oxygen permeability, muco-adhesion, and mechanical properties. CryoSEM showed porous nature of the polymer film. One gram of the hydrogel dressing absorbed 14.7 g simulated wound fluid. Release of drugs (moxifloxacin) from drug loaded hydrogel dressings, occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism in simulated wound fluid without any burst effect. Hydrogel dressing showed porous structures with good degree of mechanical strength, antioxidant activity and biocompatibility.