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3D Printable Alginate-Chitosan Hydrogel Loaded With Ketoconazole Exhibits Anticryptococcal Activity
Manoela Almeida Martins Mace1,2,3, Camila Leites Reginatto3,4, Victória Rapack Jacinto Silva5,6
1Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Biopolymers
|October 29, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed a 3D printable hydrogel for treating fungal skin infections. This biodegradable material effectively delivered ketoconazole, showing potent antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Mycology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Fungal infections, particularly cutaneous cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, present limited therapeutic options and high recurrence rates.
- Current treatments for cryptococcosis are often systemic, expensive, and lack topical approaches for skin manifestations, impacting 180,000 lives annually.
- Natural polymers are being explored for advanced applications in healthcare, including infection treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a 3D printable, biodegradable polymeric hydrogel for topical delivery of ketoconazole.
- To assess the printability, rheological properties, and antifungal efficacy of the ketoconazole-loaded hydrogel against Cryptococcus neoformans.
- To evaluate the stability and preliminary cytotoxicity of the developed hydrogel for potential in vivo applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 3D printable biodegradable polymeric hydrogel loaded with ketoconazole.
- Characterization of hydrogel properties including 3D printability, rheology (pseudoplastic behavior), and FTIR spectra to confirm alginate-Ca+2 interactions (egg-box model).
- Assessment of antifungal activity against C. neoformans strains via inhibition zones and evaluation of material stability through swelling studies and preliminary cytotoxicity tests using V79 cells.
Main Results:
- The developed hydrogel demonstrated excellent 3D printability and desirable pseudoplastic rheological properties.
- FTIR analysis confirmed cross-linking via the alginate-Ca+2 egg-box model.
- The ketoconazole-loaded hydrogel exhibited significant antifungal activity against C. neoformans, with stability up to 12 days and promising preliminary cytotoxicity results.
Conclusions:
- A 3D printable, biodegradable hydrogel loaded with ketoconazole was successfully developed.
- The hydrogel formulation shows potent antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, suitable for topical application.
- The material's stability and preliminary safety profile suggest its potential for further in vivo studies and clinical translation for cutaneous fungal infections.
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