# Formulation and Evaluation of Alginate-Based Hydrogel Membranes Loaded with Colistin for Effective Management of Multidrug-Resistant Wound Infections

## TL;DR

This study creates and tests hydrogel wound dressings loaded with colistin to manage multidrug-resistant infections, showing promising antibacterial effects.

## Contribution

A novel alginate-based hydrogel membrane formulation with colistin for wound infection management is developed and evaluated.

## Key findings

- Hydrogel membranes showed suitable physical properties and compatibility for wound dressing applications.
- Both membrane groups exhibited antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Drug release was not significantly different across various media.

## Abstract

Background: Combating antimicrobial resistance and developing dressings that match all aspects of wound healing will always be challenging. Methods: In this study, hydrogel membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Pluronic-f-127 (F-127) loaded with colistin (C) were formulated. The formulations were divided into two groups: group 1 (SA-PVA-C) and group 2 (SA-PVA-F127-C). Results: The membranes were characterized using multiple techniques, which confirmed component compatibility, physical cross-linking, an amorphous structure, and suitable surface morphology with acceptable porosity. Mechanical testing showed that both groups were suitable for wound-dressing applications. Differences in drug release across media (water, normal saline, and phosphate) were non-significant (p value > 0.05). Drug-loaded membranes (n = 3) from both groups showed antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZOI = 20.33 ± 2.51 mm, 21.66 ± 2.08 mm). Conclusions: Overall, the developed hydrogel membranes (both group 1 and group 2) demonstrated promising in vitro potential as colistin delivery systems for wound infection management.