Preparation and in vitro evaluation of Vancomycin loaded Montmorillonite-Sodium Alginate topical gel for wound infection

Abstract Despite decades of research, wound healing remains a significant public health problem. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a topical sodium alginate gel containing vancomycin (Van) loaded MMT NPs for wound healing applications. Van was loaded in MMT at different conditions (pHs of 6, 7 and temperatures of 40, 50 °C) (Van/MMT NPs). The optimum formulation (with the smallest particle size and a high value of zeta potential; 270.8 ± 77.35 nm and -35.96 ± 2.73, respectively) showed a high drug-loading capacity (entrapment efficacy of 96%) and a sustained release pattern of Van (95%) over 480 min. The optimum Van/MMT NPs were embedded into the sodium alginate (SA) gel (Van/MMT NPs/SA gel). The Van/ MMT NPs/SA gel showed a sustained and slow release pattern of Van (95%) over 50 h. FTIR tests revealed the electrostatic interaction between MMT and Van. The broth macrodilution tube method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Van, Van/ MMT NPs, and Van/MMT NPs/SA gel against Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed the promising antibacterial activity of Van/MMT NPs/SA gel, thus, this gel can be a promising formulation for the management of infected wounds.