“Tenoxicam-loaded bioglass/polyvinyl alcohol composites for biomedical applications: In-vitro study”

Incorporating nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into a bio-composite made of bioglass ceramic and polymers may help reduce the side effects associated with long-term osteoarthritis treatment. This study aims to develop a novel bio-composite of bioglass ceramic (BGc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a drug delivery system for tenoxicam (TNX). The BGc/PVA composite, with a molar ratio of 1:2 wt%, was infused with varying concentrations of tenoxicam (10, 20, and 30 wt%). The samples were characterized using several techniques, including (XRD), (FTIR), (SEM), and (EDXA). The bioactivity of the TNX-loaded BGc/PVA composites was evaluated by immersing them in simulated body fluid (SBF). UV-VIS spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the release profile of tenoxicam over 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 days of immersion in SBF. The antibacterial activity of the TNX-loaded BGc/PVA composites was tested using the agar well diffusion method, with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae used as models for Gram-negative bacteria, and Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus as models for Gram-positive bacteria. Bioactivity analysis indicated that an apatite layer formed on the surface of the TNX-loaded BGc/PVA composites, confirming that the biological activity of the composites is enhanced due to increased porosity from the addition of tenoxicam. The 30TNX/BGc/PVA composite showed a higher number of apatite particles (flake-like crystals) on its surface compared to other composites, suggesting a more extensive formation of the hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA) layer. Antibacterial assay results confirmed that the localized release of TNX from the prepared composites makes BGc/PVA composites an effective drug delivery system that can be used successfully in the treatment of chronic bone infections.