# Development and Characterization of Clindamycin-Loaded Dextran Hydrogel for Controlled Drug Release and Pathogen Inhibition

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a dextran hydrogel that can slowly release clindamycin and inhibit harmful bacteria, offering a promising approach for controlled drug delivery.

## Contribution

A novel dextran-based hydrogel with controlled drug release and antibacterial properties is developed and characterized.

## Key findings

- The hydrogel showed a high swelling ratio and pH- and temperature-dependent behavior.
- The clindamycin-loaded hydrogel achieved 70% drug loading and 65% in vitro drug release.
- The hydrogel effectively inhibited Staphylococcus gallinarium and Bacillus subtilis.

## Abstract

The naturally occurring, biocompatible and biodegradable biopolymer dextran is a versatile material for the formulation of hydrogels with desirable properties for use in medicine, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications. The distinctive structural and physicochemical characteristics, such as polymeric nature, gelling ability and excellent swelling properties, present it as an excellent biomaterial for drug delivery. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of dextran hydrogel for the encapsulation of clindamycin as an innovative approach for controlled drug delivery. The dextran hydrogel was synthesized through a simple and cost-effective method, and its swelling behavior, temperature and pH dependence, and surface morphology were investigated. The maximum equilibrium swelling ratio (73 ± 1%) of the hydrogel was observed in water at 25 °C within 120 min, and the hydrogel was found to be pH- and temperature-dependent for more precise and targeted drug delivery. Moreover, the dextran hydrogel was found to retain water for up to 18 h and remain stable for 8 days. The presence of a roughened surface with large openings/pores on the surface illustrated the high swelling capability of the synthesized hydrogel. In addition, the dextran hydrogel loaded with clindamycin demonstrated high drug loading capacity (70 ± 2%), rapid (65 ± 2%) in vitro drug release potential and pathogen-inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus gallinarium and Bacillus subtilis.