IN-VITRO RELEASE STUDY AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY EVALUATION OF OFLOXACIN LOADED POLY (2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE) / POLY (CAPROLACTONE) / POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL) HYDROGEL SYSTEM FOR BURN WOUND MANAGEMENT

Monomer 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate containing small amounts of poly(caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) incorporated with an antibiotic ofloxacin was polymerized by photopolymerization technique using 2,4,6 trimethyl benzoyl diphenyl phosphine oxide (TPO) as photoinitiator. Encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release was studied using UV-visible spectroscopy.  Swelling analysis was resorted to compare fluid uptake ability of hydrogel containing the drug with bare polymer. Zone of inhibition assay showed hydrogel containing 1% Ofloxacin to possess strong antimicrobial property Hemolysis assay demonstrated the hydrogel system to be non-hemolytic. Non-cytotoxic character of the hydrogel was confirmed using fibroblast cells. Cell adhesion studies showed non-attachment of fibroblasts to the polymer and improved cell proliferation simultaneously. Key words: Ofloxacin, Encapsulation efficiency, Hydrogel, AntimicrobialÂ