Trehalose-hydroxyethylcellulose microspheres containing vancomycin for topical drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Topical drug delivery for severe wounds faces challenges due to damaged skin barriers.
• Developing stable and effective formulations for antibiotics like vancomycin is crucial for treating wound infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel vancomycin formulation using spherical matrices.
• To evaluate the stability and drug release characteristics of the new formulation for wound applications.

Main Methods:

• Vancomycin was entrapped into trehalose and hydroxyethylcellulose (Natrosol) spherical matrices via solvent evaporation.
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to assess matrix stability and drug integrity.
• In vitro drug release studies were conducted using a two-compartment model.

Main Results:

• The formulation demonstrated full recovery of entrapped vancomycin.
• Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed that Natrosol preserves trehalose in its amorphous form, stabilizing vancomycin against heat and storage.
• Calorimetric data showed no drug decomposition, and in vitro release suggested suitability for damaged skin.

Conclusions:

• The novel vancomycin-loaded microspheres are stable and suitable for topical application on extensive, purulent, or burn wounds.
• The system activates via osmotic phenomena, swelling to form a gel that facilitates drug diffusion and manages wound exudates.