Nano drug delivery platform based on thermosensitive PEG-PCL hydrogel encapsulated in silver-bearing micelles and its antifungal activity investigation against vaginal candidiasis

Introduction: Vaginal candidiasis is a genital mucosal disease. Polymeric micelles (PMs) utilization due to improved solubility and low bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs e.g. clotrimazole interest. Silver nanoparticles could be applied enhance antifungal properties. Loading PMs in injectable thermosensitive hydrogels by rapid distribution across vaginal walls improves the drug provides suitable therapeutic efficiency for delivery systems. Method: PCL-PEG-PCL (LGL) PEG-PCL-PEG (GLG) copolymers were characterized FTIR, HNMR, GPC. Zeta potential Size synthesized determined EMSA DLS technics morphological examination was conducted FESEM TEM. Silver-bearing polymeric (PM-Ag) LDE technics. EDX UV-VIS spectroscopy confirmed silver nanoparticles' binding PMs. Thermosensitive GLG hydrogel considered carrier PM-Ag. Results: Encapsulation loading content calculated 64.53% 14.6% respectively. The diameter zeta measured 166 ± 1.73 nm±SD −6.26 0.3 mV±SD after silver-bearing it reached 197 2.29 −5.38 0.45 Discussion: biocompatibility samples investigated MTT assay results indicated that up concentration 125 µg/mL, relative cell viability percentage exceeded 80%. Therefore, considering acceptable activity against C. Albicans , designed system capable sustained release over specified period.