Nanocrystal is widely applied to improve the dissolution of poorly water-soluble drugs. We aimed to prepare meloxicam (MLX) nanocrystals using the bead mill method, followed by high-pressure homogenization (HPH). Simple drying at room temperature (RD), vacuum-drying (VD), and freeze-drying (FD) using mannitol or trehalose as a cryoprotectant were applied to obtain dry nanocrystals. The nanocrystals were fully characterized. The MLX nanosuspension containing 5% w/v MLX and 1% w/v of Pluronic F68 showing a mean particle size (MPS) of 242 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.36 was prepared after 40 min of premilling and 30 min of HPH. The dried nanocrystals were spherical within the nano range. DSC and XRPD confirmed the absence of MLX amorphization. The smartcrystals showed enhanced MLX release. Approximately 100% release was achieved with phosphate buffer (PB), pH 5.6, and 80% was released with PB, pH 7.4, from the freeze-dried samples. The results revealed the effects of the drying method and cryoprotectant type on the properties of dry nanocrystals. The freeze-dried samples showed the smallest particle size, in particular trehalose-based samples. On the other hand, mannitol-based dried samples showed the highest crystallinity index among all nanocrystals (77.8%), whereas trehalose showed the lowest (59.2%). These factors explained the dissolution differences among the samples.

The study aimed to prepare ciprofloxacin-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone electrospun nanofibers for oral drug delivery, using a conventional nozzle-based and a lab-built nozzle-free electrospinning equipment. To produce nanofibers, electrospinning is the process most often used. However, from the industry’s point of view, conventional electrospinning does not have sufficiently high productivity. By omitting the nozzle, productivity can be increased, and so the development of nozzle-free processes is worthwhile. In this study, a solution of ciprofloxacin and polyvinylpyrrolidone was electrospun under similar conditions, using both single-nozzle and nozzle-free methods. The two electrospinning methods were compared by investigating the morphological and physicochemical properties, homogeneity, in vitro drug release, and cytotoxicity. The stability of the nanofibers was monitored from different aspects in a 26 month stability study. The results showed that the use of the nozzle-free electrospinning was preferable due to a higher throughput, improved homogeneity, and the enhanced stability of nanofiber mats, compared to the nozzle-based method. Nevertheless, fast dissolving nanofibers loaded with poorly water-soluble ciprofloxacin were produced by both electrospinning methods. The beneficial properties of these nanofibers can be exploited in innovative drug development; e.g., nanofibers can be formulated into orodispersible films or per os tablets.

The prevalence of bacterial infections in wounds is a significant challenge to successful wound healing. This study investigates the antibacterial effect of hyaluronic acid and alginate aerogel loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles as a potential dressing for wound healing. The aerogel composite was synthesized via supercritical gel drying and characterized by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen porosimetry. The absorptivity of the prepared aerogel was evaluated, as well as the antibacterial activity, which was evaluated against common wound pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, using the agar diffusion method. The results show the effective antibacterial properties of the prepared hydrogel and aerogel. Furthermore, the results show water absorption ability of 5791 and 1585% for loaded and unloaded aerogels, respectively. The ZnO released from the aerogel exhibited a rapid release followed by a slow and sustained release. These findings highlight the potential of aerogels based on hyaluronic acid and alginate and loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles as an innovative antibacterial wound dressing material, which is expected to improve wound healing and reduce the risk of bacterial infections.

The development of advanced wound dressing materials with enhanced antibacterial properties is critical for improving patient outcomes and reducing infection risks. This study introduces a novel bio-based aerogel composed of copper-crosslinked alginate and hyaluronic acid, synthesized using supercritical gel drying techniques. Alginate and hyaluronic acid polymers are widely used in the pharmaceutical and medical industries because of their nontoxicity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. This study aimed to create an aerogel that could be used as a potential wound dressing material by crosslinking hyaluronic acid and alginate with copper. The bio-based aerogel was prepared by ionic gelation and supercritical gel drying. The prepared materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), BET surface area analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Moreover, the aerogel wound dressing properties were evaluated in terms of fluid uptake and antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. The physicochemical characterization of the prepared aerogels revealed their unique structural and morphological features, which are influenced by copper ion concentration and crosslinking time. Regarding their wound dressing evaluation, both aerogel and hydrogel were found to have antibacterial properties when tested on S. aureus with inhibition zones of (36 mm, 23 mm) and E. coli (31.6 mm, 21 mm) for hydrogel and aerogel, respectively. Also, excellent fluid uptake was found to reach up to 743%. These findings underscore the potential of copper-crosslinked alginate–hyaluronic acid aerogels as innovative wound dressing materials that combine superior antibacterial efficacy with excellent fluid management, paving the way for improved wound healing solutions.