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.