Design and characterization of an adhesive and pH-indicating hydrogel with gentamicin release as a proof of concept for its potential use as an acute wound dressing

Abstract

Wound care cost is an overwhelming problem aggravated by the burning of skin injuries and the overuse of traditional materials that are low cost-efficient. Modern wound care strives for multifunctional wound dressings to monitor physiological conditions and prevent wound infection or non-healing processes. Thus, this study addresses the synthesis and characterization of an adhesive and pH-indicating hydrogel dressing with gentamicin release for the potential acceleration and monitoring of acute wounds. The proposed hydrogels were prepared by physical and chemical crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), phenol red, glycerol, citric acid (CA), butyl-cyanoacrylate (BCA), and gentamicin. Diverse formulations, varying PVA and CA concentration, were evaluated and selected by the stable swelling profile. Then, the selected formulation was characterized by swelling degree, colorimetric pH-change evaluations, adhesion and dehydration assay, and drug release profile. The selected formulation was 4% wt. PVA, 5% wt. CA, 10% wt. glycerol and 1.5% wt. BCA, and showed excellent properties as a wound dressing. It had uniform transparency, a good pH-indicating property, enough water content, stable swelling degree and gentamicin release. Thus, the pH-indicating property showed the transition of pH 4 to 9, with sensitive pH change by forming the circle-like pattern at pH 8 and 9. The dehydration ratio was 1.0 and maintained adhesion to a plastic surface for 96 h. The release of gentamicin was enough in 24 h (96.3 %). Based on the results, this proof of concept concludes that the designed multifunctional hydrogel has suitable properties as a potential wound dressing. This study shows the opportunity to continue its characterization in detail in searching for a potential commercial wound dressing.