GelMA-HNT Nanocomposite Film as Dual Drug Delivery System of Neomycin Sulphate and Carvacrol Against Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infections: Physicochemical, Structural, Mechanical Properties and Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

In this study a dual delivery system, based on nanocomposite gelatin hydrogel, modified with photocrosslinkable methacrylamide groups and enriched with Halloysite nanotubes (GelMA-HNT) was developed to obtain a controlled and efficient delivery of Neomycin sulphate and Carvacrol in the management of skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, dispersing antibiotic directly in GelMA-HNT matrix and entrapping Carvacrol into HNTs. The addition of 10% HNTs into GelMA led to a compact, honeycomb-like structure featuring smaller pores compared to the GelMA film, enhanced mechanical properties and good swelling capacity. 3.5 mg Carvacrol-loading into 10% HNTs led to a decrease in the compressive modulus, whereas no significant differences in swelling were observed. Optimized dual delivery nanocomposite film (Neom/Carv GelMA-HNT10%), containing 10 mg of Neomycin sulphate and 10% HNTs entrapping 3.5 mg of Carvacrol, exhibited different release profiles of active compounds, preferentially accumulated within synthetic membrane used as an artificial skin model and was able to kill bacteria starting 1 h incubation. The structural and mechanical properties, the ability to absorb and retain water, the release profiles, the local deposition of active compounds within the artificial membrane and the antibacterial activity seem indicate our film as a good candidate for the management of wound infections.

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