Synthesis, in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation of silver sulfadiazine and cefadroxil-loaded nanofibers against Staphylococcus aureus -infected skin wounds

Augmented bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotics has provoked the requisite for synthesis of alternative treatments particularly circumventing chronic infected burn wounds. Conjugated topical administration of dual antimicrobial moieties i.e. cefadroxil (CDX) and silver sulfadiazine (SSZ) was considered to facilitate the prevention of skin and soft tissue infections. The current study was aimed to fabricate and characterize (both in-vitro & in-vivo ) CDX and SSZ-loaded chitosan (CS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers (NFs) (CS/PNFs). The composite fibers were analyzed for in-vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates collected from the burn unit of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and for in-vivo burn wound healing capabilities on rabbit models. The fabricated NFs presented excellent antibacterial activity against S. aureus particularly F5 (zone of inhibition = 15 mm). In-vivo analysis of bioactive wound dressing released higher wound closure concerning control and marketed product (Quench). Histopathological analysis revealed the formation of dense granulation tissue, along with complete epidermal regeneration, neovascularization, reformed collagen, folliculitis, and the presence of sebaceous glands. The acquired findings confirmed the successful synthesis of CDX and SSZ-loaded CS/PNFs as a promising antibacterial wound dressing material for accelerated healing of chronically infected burn wounds through a topical co-delivery of two pharmaceutical components (CDX and SSZ).