Enhanced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial efficacy of a novel gum ghatti-infused polymeric film for ocular drug delivery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ocular inflammation is a key challenge after ocular surgery, and resistance has developed in the bacterial strain. Primarily, the short residence time of the ocular formulation makes it more effective in treating and alleviating inflammation. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study, a moxifloxacin-incorporated gum ghatti-infused poly(vinyl alcohol-chitosan) polymeric film was developed by solvent casting. Various properties of the ocular composite film, including mucoadhesiveness, strength profile, and crystal size, were evaluated. KEY RESULTS: The prepared composite film exhibited a red-yellow hue. XRD and DSC analyses revealed that the drug in the formulation is amorphous. The release profile reduces the release rate and follows both Fickian- and non-Fickian-mediated pathways. A clear zone of inhibition was observed against both Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. The in vivo anti-inflammatory potential of carrageenan was observed against the prepared formulations, and within 1.5 hours, redness and inflammation diminished. Corneal integrity was maintained, with no dark spots observed in the corneal region, confirming that no coagulant or thrombosis of blood occurred in the eye. CONCLUSION: Based on the foregoing discussion, the formulation shows potential for treating ocular conjunctivitis and can be safely used for pink eye, bacterial conjunctivitis, or allergic conjunctivitis.