Title : Drug delivery strategies for the management of microbial infections and wound healing
Abstract:
Infected and chronic wounds represent a significant healthcare challenge due to their complex healing processes and the presence of persistent microbial biofilms that interfere with tissue repair. Conventional antimicrobial agents often present limitations, such as poor water solubility, limited tissue penetration, and short half-life. These issues reduce therapeutic effectiveness and contribute to the global increase in antimicrobial resistance. To overcome these challenges, we developed two classes of drug delivery systems, both loaded with water- soluble antimicrobial prodrugs, each designed to address specific therapeutic needs: one based on nanostructured clays, the other on hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. Nanostructured clays are known to provide a high surface area and adaptable interlayer spacing, enabling efficient encapsulation and protection of labile therapeutics from premature degradation. Our study demonstrated that clay-based hybrid formulations enhanced the chemical stability of encapsulated therapeutics and allowed their release under physiological conditions. Physicochemical analyses confirmed interactions between the prodrugs and clay matrices, while biological studies demonstrated notable antimicrobial activity of the formulations against pathogens commonly associated with chronic wound infections. Hydrogel formulations combining water-soluble antimicrobial prodrugs with HA exhibited favourable viscoelastic properties and controlled drug release, making them ideal for topical use in infected or chronic wounds. The hydrogels accelerated wound healing by regulating critical biological factors involved in inflammation and tissue regeneration, thus supporting the natural repair process. These multifunctional platforms combine antimicrobial agents with advanced drug carrier systems, offering a promising strategy for localized infection control and improved tissue repair. Their performance highlights strong translational potential in chronic wound management and antimicrobial therapy.
