Antibiotic-loaded microparticles for topical treatment of wounds: A scoping review

This scoping review aimed to map the evidence on antibiotic-loaded microparticles developed as controlled-release systems for topical wound treatment. The review followed the JBI methodology and was reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The most frequently investigated antibiotics were gentamicin (n = 4; 21.1%), ciprofloxacin (n = 3; 15.8%), and doxycycline (n = 3; 15.8%), followed by vancomycin, mupirocin, and rifamycin (n = 2; 10.5% each). Chitosan and gelatin were the most common matrices (n = 6; 31.6 % each), followed by alginate (n = 3; 15.8%). Most systems were incorporated into wound dressings, scaffolds, hydrogels, patches, or used as powder. Excisional wounds were the most frequently evaluated model (n = 12; 63.2%), followed by infected wounds (n = 5; 26.3%), whereas burn and diabetic wound models were less investigated (n=1, 5.3%). These findings suggest that antibiotic-loaded microparticles may act as multifunctional wound-care systems by combining infection control, controlled local antibiotic release, and support for wound healing.