Advanced Biomaterial for Dual-Drug Release: A Hydrogel-Microparticle Approach

Abstract

Advanced biomaterials with dual drug delivery represent a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic outcomes in wound treatment. This work aimed to combine antimicrobial and analgesic actions in a single platform, enabling the simultaneous release of both drugs from an advanced dual-drug delivery system based on a combined hydrogel and microparticle approach. The system was composed of alginate microparticles containing the antibiotic gentamicin incorporated into a gellan gum/collagen hydrogel matrix, in which the local anesthetic bupivacaine was directly loaded. The resulting composite was thoroughly characterized in terms of its morphological, physicochemical, mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties, as well as drug release profiles. The incorporation of microparticles significantly influenced the structural and functional behavior of the hydrogel, particularly at higher microparticle concentrations (50% w/v). Notably, the microparticles played a crucial role in maintaining the hydrogel's integrity in the presence of both drugs and enabled their controlled and simultaneous release, with each exhibiting distinct release kinetics. These findings highlight the potential of this hydrogel and microparticle composite as an advanced material for wound dressings, capable of promoting healing while simultaneously providing localized pain relief.