Bio-Hybrid Hydrogels Incorporated into a System of Salicylic Acid-pH/Thermosensitive Nanocarriers Intended for Cutaneous Wound-Healing Processes
Katarzyna Bialik-Wąs,
Małgorzata Miastkowska,
Paulina Sapuła,
Klaudia Pluta,
Dagmara Malina,
Jarosław Chwastowski,
Mateusz Barczewski
Affiliations
Katarzyna Bialik-Wąs
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Małgorzata Miastkowska
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Paulina Sapuła
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Klaudia Pluta
Department of Chemical Technology and Environmental Analytics, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Dagmara Malina
Department of Chemical Technology and Environmental Analytics, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Jarosław Chwastowski
Department of Chemical Technology and Environmental Analytics, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Mateusz Barczewski
Institute of Materials Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Management, Poznan University of Technology, 24 Jana Pawła II St., 60965 Poznan, Poland
In this paper, the preparation method of bio-hybrid hydrogels incorporated into a system of salicylic acid-pH/thermosensitive nanocarriers to speed up the wound-healing process was developed. This combination creates a dual drug delivery system, which releases the model hydrophobic active substance—salicylic acid—in a gradual and controlled manner for an extended time. Our research team has determined the various properties of bio-hybrid hydrogels based on their physicochemical (swelling degree, and degradation), structural (FT-IR), morphological (SEM), and mechanical (elongation tests) traits. Moreover, empty pH/thermosensitive nanocarriers and their salicylic acid-containing systems were characterized using the following methods: DLS, TG/DTG, and DSC. Additionally, salicylic acid release profiles directly from thermosensitive nanocarriers were compared to the bio-hybrid matrix. These studies were conducted in PBS (pH = 7.4) for 7 days using the USP4 method. To evaluate the antibacterial properties of the obtained materials, the inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger—as the main microorganisms responsible for human infections—were tested. The obtained results indicated that the pH/thermosensitive nanocarrier–salicylic acid system and bio-hybrid hydrogels are characterized by antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli.
