Fabrication of Eucalyptus Oil-loaded Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Topical Films for Enhanced Treatment of Post-operative Wound Infection

The efficacious penetration of antimicrobials at infectious sites and the reduction of microbial resistance development are critical in controlling the effective treatment of post-operative wound infection. To create the enhanced antimicrobial topical films, a solvent casting method for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CiproHCl) loaded eucalyptus oil (EO) containing low molecular weight chitosan films was used. Nine batches of CiproHCl with varying chitosan and glycerol concentrations were prepared and tested. Additionally, optimised CiproHCl films with EO were created and tested. The antimicrobial activity of CiproHCl-loaded EO containing low molecular weight chitosan films against S. Aureus, E. Coli, and B. Subtilus was tested. The FT-IR spectroscopy and DSC analysis revealed no interaction between the drug and any of the other excipients, and the drug remained amorphous in chitosan film. The SEM analysis revealed that the prepared CiproHCl-loaded EO-containing films had smooth surfaces and large agglomerates. In vitro drug release testing revealed that the EO-loaded films have a sustained release profile of up to 16 hours with a cumulative drug release of 96.83%. In an ex vivo drug permeation study, CiproHCl-loaded EO-containing films demonstrated 2.44 times more permeation flux than CiproHCl-alone films. After six months, the stability study revealed that the CiproHCl-loaded EO-loaded EO-containing film showed no significant change in drug release profile or folding endurance. This present study highlights the possible usage of CiproHCl-loaded EO containing low molecular weight chitosan films in enhanced post-operative wound treatment.