Fabrication and Characterization of Levofloxacin loaded Hydroxyapatite Functionalized Gelatin-HPMC composite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

In this study, we have fabricated semi-synthetic, drug eluting hydrogel composite made from gelatin (natural) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and chemically crosslinked by using glutaraldehyde (GA). Hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as the bioactive ceramic material as a filler for enhanced drug loading and reinforcement. Levofloxacin (LFX) is an antibiotic which is used as the therapeutic agent. The hydrogel prepared through a facile solution casting method had increased mechanical properties as a result of addition of HA due to hydrogen bonding between the polymers and the ceramic material. Hydrophilic characteristic is enhanced in the composite MW-8 which is attributed by increase in swelling ability and low water contact angle (WCA) values. Levofloxacin presence as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) was detected by UV-vis analysis at 290 nm and antimicrobial analysis against S. aureus and E. coli. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) results for biocompatibility and cytotoxicity analysis exhibited the composite to support the growth of Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cell lines and showed viability > 50% after 72 hours of incubation. These results suggest the material to have potential to be used for biomedical applications. Keyword: Gelatin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Hydroxyapatite, Levofloxacin, Hydrogel, Biomedical, Polymeric, Human Embryonic Kidney 293