Selection of an optimal gel base for wound-healing drug Maklozol using biopharmaceutical and rheological studies

The aim of the study is to select the optimal gel carrier for the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical development of a new potential wound-healing drug with a combined composition, Maclozol, through a comparative assessment of the biopharmaceutical, physicochemical and rheological characteristics of commonly used hydrophilic polymer bases: sodium alginate, Poloxamer 407 (Collifora® P407), carboxymethylcellulose E466 (CMC E466), polyethylene glycol and a mixture of polyethylene oxides PEO-400 and PEO-1500 (7:3). The object of the study is the potential wound-healing drug Maclozol, which is a combination of substances of synthetic (metronidazole at a concentration of 0.5 %) and plant origin (sanguiritrin, aloe arborescens extract) with multifunctional properties for the treatment of animal wounds. Gel samples were prepared according to traditional guidelines for the preparation of soft dosage forms, taking into account the properties of the constituent components. The selected active and excipient components were mixed until homogeneous. Biopharmaceutical assessment of the release of the active ingredient in the combination - metronidazole - from the dosage form (pharmaceutical availability) was conducted using equilibrium dialysis through a semipermeable membrane, followed by quantitative determination in dialysate samples. Water retention capacity was determined gravimetrically after controlled heating of the samples. Adhesion properties were studied by measuring the peel force using an equal-arm balance. The best rheological properties were determined based on the effective viscosity values of the compared gels using a rotational viscometer. Comparative analysis revealed that Poloxamer P407 demonstrated the optimal combination of characteristics among the tested bases, ensuring high pharmaceutical availability of the leading active ingredient, the necessary water-retention and adhesive properties, and the rheological parameters critical for the wound-healing gel Maclozol being developed.