Speaker
Description
Hydrogels have become a formulation of interest in recent years due to their biodegradability, compatibility with natural tissue, and controlled drug release. The formation of a polymeric network-like arrangement within the gel matrix which is water-swellable in nature allows efficient entrapment and release of active ingredients. Clerodendrum glandulosum (CG) has been reported to have anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-asthmatic, anti-obesity, anti-malarial, anti-helminthic, and antimicrobial properties in folklore literature but has not been explored much yet. Moreover, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have additional antimicrobial properties, which makes them a suitable candidate for producing a synergistic effect with CG. The entrapment of the AgNPs within a hydrogel matrix formulated with chitosan-polyethylene glycol (Ch-PEG) allows the formulation of an efficient delivery system for controlled release. Further, chitosan has additional antimicrobial and wound-healing properties, which will increase the efficiency of the formulation by many folds. The formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties like, visual appearance, spreadability, viscosity, absorbance, porosity, swelling, entrapment efficiency, and release kinetics. Finally, the formulation was studied for its antimicrobial property by the zone of inhibition method.
Keywords: Antimicrobial; Entrapment efficiency; Hydrogel; Silver nanoparticles; Delivery system