Innovative Vancomycin-Loaded Hydrogel-Based Systems - New Opportunities for the Antibiotic Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major healthcare concern, often linked to bacterial biofilm formation.
• Systemic antibiotic administration can be insufficient for preventing biofilms and may lead to toxicity.
• Local antibiotic delivery offers enhanced drug concentration at the site and sustained release, minimizing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize innovative hydrogel-based composites for localized vancomycin (VAN) therapy.
• To develop a system for sustained antibiotic release to combat SSIs.
• To create a biocompatible material for enhanced wound healing.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan particles loaded with vancomycin (VAN) were embedded in collagen/chitosan/hyaluronic acid hydrogels.
• Hydrogels were crosslinked with genipin and freeze-dried into flake/disc forms.
• Characterization included size, stability, encapsulation efficiency, antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and drug release studies.

Main Results:

• Spherical VAN-loaded particles (approx. 200 nm) with ~60% encapsulation efficiency were produced.
• The hydrogel composites demonstrated stability, significant antibacterial activity against *Staphylococcus aureus*, and biocompatibility with MG-63 cells.
• Prolonged VAN release was observed, with minimized initial burst effect compared to bare nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogel system enables direct, sustained local delivery of vancomycin to surgical sites.
• This approach is expected to inhibit biofilm formation and accelerate healing while reducing systemic toxicity.
• The study presents a promising strategy for managing SSIs through advanced biomaterial-based drug delivery.