Acacia gum/alginate-based multiscale crosslinked bead-in-hydrogel system enriched with Alkanna tinctoria for dual-phase sustained release of levofloxacin and antimicrobial efficacy
Jabeen S, Munawar M, Mayer I, Islam A, Khan RU, Schubert DW (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 352
Article Number: 151143
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151143
Abstract
Smart drug delivery systems that combine responsiveness, structural stability, and sustained release are essential for advanced biomedical applications. This study reports a plant-derived bead-in-hydrogel (BIH) system engineered via a multiscale crosslinking approach for dual-phase diffusion- and swelling-controlled release. The hydrogel matrix, composed of Acacia gum, sodium alginate, and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), was chemically reinforced with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and functionalized with Alkanna tinctoria (Ratanjot, RJ) extract. Levofloxacin (LVX) was encapsulated in alginate beads with 87% efficiency prior to hydrogel integration. Characterization confirmed robustness: FTIR verified chemical interactions, TGA demonstrated thermal stability, and SEM revealed uniform, porous, bead-embedded morphology. Bead-loaded hydrogels showed pronounced pH-responsive swelling, tunable crosslinking, and controlled biodegradability. Contact angle measurements indicated hydrophilic surfaces, and cytotoxicity (<1.6% mortality) confirmed biocompatibility. Antimicrobial assays showed potent inhibition against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. In vitro release studies in simulated gastric (pH 1.2), intestinal (pH 6.5), and physiological (pH 7.4) fluids achieved >82% sustained LVX release over 72 h. Kinetic modeling (Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas) revealed anomalous transport (n = 0.95), indicating combined diffusion and polymer relaxation control. The BIH system thus offers a versatile, bioactive, and pH-responsive platform for controlled drug delivery with strong translational potential.
Authors with CRIS profile
Sehrish Jabeen
Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Polymerwerkstoffe) (LSP)
Muhammad Munawar
Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Polymerwerkstoffe) (LSP)
Dirk Schubert
Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Polymerwerkstoffe) (LSP)
Involved external institutions
Pakistan (PK)How to cite
APA:
Jabeen, S., Munawar, M., Mayer, I., Islam, A., Khan, R.U., & Schubert, D.W. (2026). Acacia gum/alginate-based multiscale crosslinked bead-in-hydrogel system enriched with Alkanna tinctoria for dual-phase sustained release of levofloxacin and antimicrobial efficacy. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151143
MLA:
Jabeen, Sehrish, et al. "Acacia gum/alginate-based multiscale crosslinked bead-in-hydrogel system enriched with Alkanna tinctoria for dual-phase sustained release of levofloxacin and antimicrobial efficacy." International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 352 (2026).
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