Development of Ciprofloxacin and Essential Oil Loaded Nanosponge Gel for Treating MRSA Infected Wounds

Abstract

To date, the emergence of resistance against antibiotics in bacteria has presented challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRS A) infected wounds are one of the common bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin was previously used for skin and skin structure infections but emergence of its resistance against MRSA has led to its decreased use for skin infections. The resistance is particularly due to efflux of ciprofloxacin by NorA pump. Emerging literature has illustrated that combining antibiotic and essential oils can lead to reversal of antibiotic resistance. Rosemary essential oil has known wound healing properties and can inhibit NorA pump. Therefore, combining ciprofloxacin and rosemary essential oil can be useful. However, ciprofloxacin has poor solubility whereas rosemary essential oil is volatile, unstable and poorly water soluble. Current study was designed to form ciprofloxacin and rosemary loaded nanosponge gel to overcome these problems. The nanosponges were prepared by free radical polymerization tec1mique by using different concentrations of polymer, monomer, initiator and crosslinker. The loading of ciprofloxacin and rosemary essential oil was done into nanosponges at different ratios by freeze drying method. The loaded sponges were characterized for solubility, swelling, particle size, compatibility, dru loading, and drug release behaviour. Antimicrobial activity was determined by microbroth dilution method. In vivo study was performed by applying excisional wound model over a span of 14 days. Results show that the nanosponges had an average size of200-300 nm, polydispersity index of 00418 and zeta potential of around -26.5 mY. There was encapsulation efficiency of 2: 80% for both ciprofloxacin and rosemary essential oil. Results of various characterizations were aligned to the results reported in literature which indicated that the formed nanosponges were correctly synthesized. In vitro antimicrobial activity and in vivo analysis results showed promising potential of the formulation against MRSA infected wounds. Hence, the hypothesis of this thesis showed potential for its acceptance.