Bioengineered vancomycin-loaded chitosan/collagen nanocomposite from Sphyrna lewini: Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and...

This study aimed to develop a vancomycin (VCM)-loaded chitosan nanoparticle (CS-NPs)/collagen (Col) composite for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Collagen was isolated as acid-soluble collagen (ASC) from the skin of Sphyrna lewini shark and combined with chitosan nanoparticles and vancomycin. Four formulations-Col, VCM-Col, Col/CS-NPs, and VCM-Col/CS-NPs-were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, and SEM to confirm incorporation and assess physicochemical properties. Biological activities were evaluated through antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic assays. The formulation exhibited a high drug entrapment efficiency of 93.5 % for VCM-loaded CS-NPs and 100 % for the VCM-Col/CS-NPs nanocomposite, indicating a strong drug-polymer interaction. Both formulations demonstrated sustained drug release in the in vitro release study conducted at pH 7.4. In vitro antidiabetic activity showed that VCM-Col/CS-NPs exhibited the strongest α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀: 274.7 ± 0.29 μg/mL), followed by VCM-Col (IC₅₀: 328.4 ± 0.22 μg/mL) and Col/CS-NPs (IC₅₀: 376.3 ± 0.40 μg/mL). Glucose uptake by yeast cells was also significantly enhanced, indicating improved glucose adsorption and transport. Antibacterial testing revealed inhibition zones of 19.3 ± 0.58 mm against E. coli and 21.9 ± 0.29 mm against S. aureus at a concentration of 10 μg/mL, with activity comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. Finally, in vivo studies using a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat excision wound model demonstrated notable wound healing and closure after 17 days of treatment with VCM-Col/CS-NPs. These findings highlight VCM-Col/CS-NPs as a multifunctional biomaterial with potential application in diabetic foot ulcer management.