Design of a new polymeric matrix based on xanthan and polyurethane as support for the release of antifungal and anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract

Abstract The antifungal agent ketoconazole (K) and anti-inflammatory drug piroxicam (P) were incorporated into xanthan (Xn) or esterified xanthan with oleic acid (XnOA) and polyurethane (PU) matrix, targeting the development of delivery devices for the bioactive principles with possible applications as topical drug carriers. The drug encapsulation had an impact on the mechanical strength of the Xn-PU and XnOA-PU matrices. In contrast to those without bioactive compounds, which only demonstrated a compressive nominal stress of 32.18 kPa (sample Xn-PU) at 71.26% strain, the compressive strength of the biomaterials increased to roughly 50.04 kPa (sample Xn-PU-K) at 71.34% strain. The value of the compressive strength dropped to around 30.67 kPa when a second drug was entrapped inside the Xn-PU matrix (sample Xn-PU-P/K), while the maximum sustained strain increased to 87.21%. The Weibull model provided the best fit for the drug release kinetics. In contrast to the materials containing Xn-PU, those based on XnOA-PU released the active principles more slowly (the release rate constant displays low values). All materials display antimicrobial activity. Additionally, a higher amount of piroxicam is released from XnOA-PU-P (64%) than from Xn-PU-P (44%), which reveals a more pronounced anti-inflammatory activity of the former system (82.8% inhibition), compared to the latter (71% inhibition). According to the results, materials based on polyurethane and modified or unmodified xanthan could be used as topical drug carriers to release piroxicam and ketoconazole.