Development and Characterization of Fusidic Acid-Loaded Alginate-Aloe vera Based Hydrogel Film

Summary

A formulation of fusidic acid-loaded hydrogel film was developed with different Aloe vera ratios and characterized in this study.

Abstract

A new fusidic acid-loaded hydrogel film was prepared via the solvent casting technique using alginate and Aloe vera. The hydrogel films were optimized using different ratios of sodium alginate, Aloe vera, and glycerin. The films containing 10% glycerin (w/w of alginate) exhibited the best appearance. Incorporating Aloe vera influenced the thickness, swelling behavior, water vapor permeability, and drug release profile of the hydrogel films. Higher Aloe vera content resulted in thicker films (up to a certain ratio), increased swelling, reduced water vapor permeability, and a prolonged drug release of up to 93% over 12 h. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of key functional groups and the interaction between the hydrogel components. The study suggests that the combination of sodium alginate, Aloe vera, and glycerin can improve the mechanical properties and drug release profiles of hydrogel films, making them a promising option for enhanced topical drug delivery and wound healing applications.

Introduction

Fusidic acid is a potent steroidal antibiotic derived from Fusidium coccineum. It is widely used to treat staphylococcal skin infections and impetigo. This drug has high efficacy, even against antibiotic-resistant strains, and low toxicity, making it a suitable option for managing skin infections¹. Unlike other topical antibiotics, fusidic acid penetrates deeply into the skin, enhancing its antimicrobial effects, especially in areas where the skin's protective barrier is damaged. Its structure allows for versatile solubility characteristics, enabling widespread distribution throughout body tissues, which is further enhanced in its ....

Protocol

The details of the reagents and equipment used in this study are listed in the Table of Materials.

1. Preparation of fusidic acid hydrogel films

1. Prepare solutions of sodium alginate (2.0% w/v) and Aloe vera (1.0% w/v) by dissolving them in distilled water.
2. Add 200 mg of fusidic acid to the sodium alginate solution and stir for 1 h.
3. Add glycerol to the alginate solution at concentrations of 10%, 12%, and 14% (w/w, based .......

Discussion

Fusidic acid was incorporated in alginate hydrogel films with various ratios of Aloe vera and glycerin. The presence of Aloe vera did not affect the appearance, but a decrease in viscosity was observed in the solutions containing Aloe vera during preparation. The findings from thickness testing suggest that the inclusion of Aloe vera may have some impact on film thickness to a certain extent, but it is not considered significant. In general, there is not a single ideal thickness that s.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Aloe vera	Local supplier, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia		It was raw aloe vera bark and prepared the materials in our lab
Calcium Chloride	R&M Chemicals
Differential Scanning Calorimetry	Netzsch-Gruppe	DSC 300 Caliris
FTIR spectroscopy	Perkin Elmer	107914
Fusidic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA	PHR2810	certified reference material, pharmaceutical secondary standard
Glycerin	Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA	PHR1020	United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Micrometer Screw Gauge	Blomker Industries, Malaysia
NETZSCH proteus software	Netzsch-Gruppe	DSC 300 Caliris
Phosphate Buffer Saline	Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA	P4417	Tablets
Sodium alginate	Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA	W201502
thermal analysis instrument	NETZSCH	DSC Caliris
UV-SPECTROPHOTOMETER / UV LINE-9400	SECOMAM	/ 8512047