Smart topical patches: applications in dual-action treatment against microbial infections Tejesvi Patel, Roselyn Lata, Reeha Sharma, Dr. David Rohindra School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Oceans and Natural Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji The synthesis of hydrogels with excellent physical and chemical properties is of crucial importance in many existing and potential application areas. Biodegradable hydrogels of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) that have been crosslinked with different concentrations of tannic acid (TA) were prepared and loaded with an antifungal drug, nystatin (NYS). PVP is a water-soluble polymer that in the free state, has a helicoidal structure with the pyrrolidone rings on the exterior which promotes the interaction of the peptide groups with other substances through complex formation. TA is a natural polyphenol that has been gaining a lot of attention due to its anti- tumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to produce smart, functional materials that will be able to absorb toxins, stop bleeding, treat rashes and alleviate other conditions of soreness. The use of TA as a crosslinker to produce hydrogels has not been thoroughly explored therefore, a need for more research on this system is required. An increase in the glass transition temperature of PVP accompanied with changes observed in the OH stretching, C=O and the C-O-C regions in the infrared spectrum in dried PVP/TA hydrogel suggested the formation of hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl group of PVP and the –OH group of TA. The swelling of the hydrogels in distilled deionized water (DDW), simulated body fluid (SBF) and simulated sweat (SS) decreased with increasing TA concentration and was pH dependent. Ultra-violet spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to study the in vitro release kinetics of TA and NYS in SBF and SS. TA release followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model regardless of swelling media while NYS followed the Korsmeyer- Peppas and Hixson-Crowell cube root law in SS and SBF respectively. As a result of climate change, warmer temperatures are beginning to have substantial impacts on human health particularly with skin infections (Mora, et al., 2022). Topical patches consisting of biocompatible hydrogels that can simultaneously treat bacterial and fungal infections is highly desirable (Krysiak & Stachewicz, 2022). The release of NYS with antifungal properties along with the antibacterial properties of TA provide an excellent twofold benefit for treating skin infections. Therefore, topical patches were developed by adhering the powdered drug loaded hydrogel on silicone. NYS was active against Candida albicans while TA against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Such topical patches may especially help diabetic patients who are more prone to infection due to slowed wound healing. References 1. Krysiak, Z. J. & Stachewicz, U., 2022. Electrospun fibers as carriers for topical drug delivery and release in skin bandages and patches for atopic dermatitis treatment.. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, p. e1829. 2. Mora, C. et al., 2022. Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change.. Nature climate change, 12(9), pp. 869-875.
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