Fabrication of moxifloxacin HCl-loaded biodegradable chitosan nanoparticles for potential antibacterial and accelerated cutaneous wound healing efficacy

Aim This work aims to formulate topical hybrid gel containing chitosan-coated moxifloxacin (MXF) HCl nanoparticles (NPs) with enhanced antibacterial and healing activity. Methods MXF HCl NPs prepared by the ionic gelation method were loaded onto a hybrid chitosan carbomer gel. Size analysis of the prepared NPs was performed using SEM and Zeta-sizer. Further characterisation was done using Fourier transforms infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Prepared gel was evaluated for its in vitro drug release, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and stability studies under storage conditions. In-vivo wound healing was measured by observing percentage reduction in wound. Results NPs have 359 +/- 79 nm mean particle size, 31.01 mV zeta potential with 0.008 polydispersity index (PD1), 63.5% drug entrapment and 83 +/- 3.5% drug release at pH 5.5. Hybrid chitosan carbomer gel showed good biocompatibility, antibacterial, in-vivo wound healing properties and stable properties. Conclusions NP-loaded hybrid gel can be an effective treatment for acute and challenged topical wounds.

Automated summary

This study successfully formulated a hybrid gel containing chitosan-coated moxifloxacin hydrochloride nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial and healing properties. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the hybrid gel exhibited good drug release performance and stability, making it effective for treating acute and challenged topical wounds.