Antistaphylococcal and Neutrophil Chemotactic Injectable κ-Carrageenan Hydrogel for Infectious Wound Healing

Staphylococcus aureus wound infection is a major concern due to the resistance of S. aureus to topical antibiotics and capacity to inhibit neutrophil migration at the infection site. To overcome these problems, we have developed 0.01% (v/v) octenidine dihydrochloride (Oct) and 0.5% (w/w) chitosan-treated serum (CTS) containing 1.5% (w/v) κ-carrageenan hydrogel (κC). Oct is an antiseptic agent, against which no resistance is reported so far, and CTS has neutrophilic attractant properties. The prepared Oct-CTS-κC hydrogel is injectable and biocompatible. Using in vitro experiments, we demonstrated CTS can induce the migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and fibroblasts that can facilitate tissue regeneration at a wound site. In vitro release studies revealed a sustained release of Oct and serum proteins from the Oct-CTS-κC hydrogel. Antibacterial properties of developed hydrogels were tested against S. aureus and its clinical isolates. Further, the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of the prepared hydrogel was evaluated in an S. aureus-infected Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat wound. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the Oct-CTS-κC hydrogel inhibited S. aureus growth. Thus, the developed Oct-CTS-κC hydrogel can be potentially exploited for S. aureus-infected wound healing.