Novel sodium fusidate-loaded film-forming hydrogel with easy application and excellent wound healing

To develop a novel sodium fusidate-loaded film-forming hydrogel (FFH) for easy application and excellent wound healing, various FFH formulations and corresponding FFH dried films were prepared with drug, polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), propylene glycol, ethanol and water, and their film forming times, mechanical properties, drug release, in vivo wound healing in rat and histopathology were assessed. The sodium fusidate-loaded FFH composed of sodium fusidate/PVP/PVA/propylene glycol/ethanol/water at the weight ratio of 1/2/12/3/8/74 could form a corresponding dried film in the wound sites promptly due to fast film-forming time of about 4 min. This FFH showed an appropriate hardness and adhesiveness. Furthermore, this corresponding dried film provided an excellent flexibility and elasticity, and gave relatively high drug release. As compared with the sodium fusidate-loaded commercial product, it significantly improved excision and infection wound healing in rats. This FFH was stable at 45 °C for at least 6 months. Therefore, this novel sodium fusidate-loaded FFH would be an effective pharmaceutical product with easy application for the treatment of wounds.