Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains that form a three-dimensional network, widely used for wound dressing due to their ability to absorb significant amounts of fluid. This study aimed to develop a hydrogel patch for wound dressing with self-healing properties, particularly for joints and stretchable body parts, providing a physical barrier while maintaining an optimal environment for wound healing. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC) were crosslinked with borax, which reacts with the active hydroxyl groups in both polymers to form a hydrogel. The patches were loaded with ciprofloxacin HCl (CIP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to prevent and treat various types of wound infections. Hydrogels were subjected to rheological, morphological, antimicrobial, self-healing, ex vivo release, swelling, cytotoxicity, wound healing, and stability studies. The hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning, thixotropic, and viscoelastic properties. Microscopic images of the CIP hydrogel patch showed a porous, crosslinked matrix. The antimicrobial activity of the patch revealed antibacterial effectiveness against five types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, demonstrating a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.05 μg/mL against E. coli. The swelling percentage was found to be 337.4 ± 12.7%. The cumulative CIP release percentage reached 103.7 ± 3.7% after 3 h, followed by zero-order release kinetics. The stability studies revealed that the crossover point shifted toward higher frequencies after 3 months of storage at room temperature, suggesting a relaxation in the hydrogel bonds. The cytotoxicity study revealed that the CIP hydrogel patch is non-cytotoxic. Additionally, the in vivo study demonstrated that the CIP hydrogel patch possesses wound-healing ability. Therefore, the CIP PVA/Na CMC/Borax patch could be used in wound dressing.

This study reports the use of an in situ-forming gel based on hyaluronic–chitosan–glycerophosphate for wound healing. Hydrogels with optimized thermoresponsive gelling, rheological, and prolonged drug release properties were developed and incorporated with ciprofloxacin and carvacrol. In vitro evaluations included rheological studies, swelling degree, degradation rates, morphological analysis, antioxidant effects, antimicrobial activity, and drug release studies. The effectiveness of the optimized hydrogel was assessed using an animal ischemic wound rabbit ear model. The incorporation of ciprofloxacin and carvacrol into the combined hydrogel system maintained the mechanical strength of the formula, with a G′/G″ ≈ ratio of approximately 15.6, interconnected porosity, and controlled swelling. It enhanced antimicrobial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli. In addition, the developed gel exhibited sustained release following the Higuchi diffusion kinetics. The quantitative wound area% indicated that on day 9, the mean wound area decreased from 81.8% for the control to 51.2% for the developed gel. The study findings demonstrate the suitability and potential of this system as multifunctional wound-healing formulations that promote moist healing, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, while providing sustained therapeutic delivery over 24 h.

This study aimed to characterize butanol and methanol extracts of Phlomis brachyodon (P. brachyodon) and incorporate them into thermoresponsive in situ gels (F1 and F2, respectively) to evaluate their wound-healing activity. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined. Extracts were profiled by LC–MS. The rheological properties of the gels, using a controlled-stress rheometer, and their wound-healing activity and histological examinations were evaluated. Cell viability assays of the extracts were conducted against human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and a small-cell lung cancer cell line (H69). The methanol extract showed higher TPC and TFC values and stronger antioxidant activity than the butanol extract (IC₅₀, 55.82 ± 8.94 versus 144.11 ± 10.95 µg/mL). F1 and F2 underwent a sol–gel transition at temperatures suitable for topical application and exhibited shear-thinning behavior with predominantly elastic behavior. Both extract-loaded gels promoted wound contraction, with F2 producing the greatest reduction in wound area and near-complete closure by day 15. F1 and F2 gels showed complete re-epithelialization. LC–MS profiling detected 37 constituents and showed greater chemical diversity in the methanol extract. Both extracts had selectivity indices greater than 30 against H69 cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values of 3.16 and 2.24 µg/mL for the butanol and methanol extracts, respectively. P. brachyodon extract-loaded thermoresponsive gels, particularly the methanol extract formulation, showed promising antioxidant and wound-healing activity. In conclusion, these findings support the development of P. brachyodon topical formulations and demonstrate anticancer activity, particularly against H69 lung cancer cells, for P. brachyodon extracts.