Response surface methodology and Taguchi approach to assess the combined effect of formulation factors on minocycline delivery from collagen sponges.

An important aspect to be considered in the healing of acute or chronic cutaneous wounds is the associated potential infection management. Collagen, the most abundant protein of the extracellular matrix, with proven properties in wounds healing and tissues regeneration, is one of the most widely used biopolymers as carrier matrix for controlled drug delivery systems. For this reason, the purpose of the current paper is the development of some minocycline-loaded collagen topical sponges uncross-linked and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, obtained by lyophilization of appropriate hydrogels prepared according to the 3-factor, 3-level face-centered central composite design. The determination of drug delivery from the sponges was performed by assessment of some physicochemical parameters involved in this complex process: sponges surface wettability, swelling ratio and the percentage of minocycline released from the sponges. The application of the response surface methodology allowed the setting of the formulation parameters optimum ranges, which ensure an adequate minocycline release to the application site. The design robustness was checked using the signal-to-noise ratio performance indicator. The optimum collagen-minocycline sponges determined based on the statistical screening technique could be suitable for topical drug delivery in infected wounds healing with moderate to high exudate.

Design and optimization of some collagen-minocycline based hydrogels potentially applicable for the treatment of cutaneous wound infections.

Topical delivery systems for the treatment of different infected cutaneous wounds based on natural biopolymers are widely studied. The development of some topical hydrogels with type I collagen and minocycline by the experimental design technique, based on response surface methodology and Taguchi's approach, and the evaluation of their kinetic properties is presented. The concentrations of polymer, drug and cross-linking agent were selected as independent variables for the face centered composite design and low, medium and high concentration as variation levels for each factor. Minocycline kinetic release was investigated using a modified Franz diffusion cell. The drug release followed the Higuchi model. Three formulations having optimal minocycline release profiles were selected. They can be used as potential drug topical release systems for the treatment of infected cutaneous tissue.