Development of a Bentonite Nanoparticle-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery System for Burn Wound Infection Prevention

Abstract

A novel drug delivery system was fabricated by incorporating levofloxacin within bentonite nanoparticles and subsequently integrating the composite onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) surgical mesh. Nanoparticle characterisation was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A drug-loaded patch incorporating a three-dimensional skin model was developed to simulate in vivo drug release. A two-dimensional computational model utilising Comsol software predicted sustained drug release over fourteen days. Antibacterial activity of the designed nanostructures was tested against S. aureus ATCC6538, S. aureus 1199, S. aureus 1199B, S. epidermidis ATCC 144,990 and P. aeruginosa which are considered as human skin infections. The results revealed that nano-bentonite@levofloxacin demonstrates better activity than levofloxacin. The highest inhibition activity of the designed nanocomposites (NB@LVF) was observed in the case of S.aureus 1199, S.aureus 1199B and S.epidermidis ATCC144990. These findings demonstrate the potential of bentonite nanoparticles as a carrier system for achieving prolonged antimicrobial effects in managing skin burn wounds through controlled release from a functionalised surgical mesh.