Development, Characterization and Optimization of Doxycycline Hyclate And Piroxicam Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles in Transdermal Patches For Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant complication affecting millions of diabetic patients worldwide, often leading to severe infections and amputations. This research focuses on developing an innovative transdermal drug delivery system combining doxycycline hyclate and piroxicam loaded chitosan nanoparticles incorporated into transdermal patches for effective treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The study employed ionic gelation method for nanoparticle preparation, followed by comprehensive characterization using particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, drug entrapment efficiency, and morphological studies. Optimization was performed using Box-Behnken design to identify ideal formulation parameters. The optimized formulation demonstrated particle size of 178 nm, zeta potential of +32 mV, and entrapment efficiency exceeding 78% for both drugs. In vitro drug release studies showed sustained release patterns over 24 hours, while ex vivo permeation studies using rat skin confirmed enhanced transdermal delivery. Antibacterial activity against common diabetic wound pathogens showed significant inhibition zones. The developed transdermal patches offer a promising therapeutic approach for diabetic foot ulcer management by combining antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions with improved patient compliance and localized drug delivery.