Graft and crosslinked polymerization of polysaccharide gum to form hydrogel wound dressings for drug delivery applications

The present article discusses the exploration of the potential of moringa gum (MOG) polysaccharides for developing a hydrogel dressing as a slow drug carrier to the enhanced wound healing. The polymer films were formed by grafting of carbomer onto MOG by radiation induced crosslinking technique. The polymers were characterized by cryo-SEM, AFM, FTIR, C-13 NMR spectroscopy, and swelling studies. Drug delivery and biomedical properties of the dressings were also determined. Polymer dressing absorbed 4.20 +/- 0.09 g/g simulated wound fluid. The release of levofloxacin was observed without burst effect and followed non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and best fitted in Higuchi kinetic model. The hydrogel films were permeable to O-2 and H2O vapour and impermeable to microbes and showed antioxidant activity.