Formulation and Evaluation of Alginate-Based Hydrogel Membranes Loaded with Colistin for Effective Management of Multidrug-Resistant Wound Infections

<b>Background:</b> Combating antimicrobial resistance and developing dressings that match all aspects of wound healing will always be challenging. <b>Methods</b>: In this study, hydrogel membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Pluronic-f-127 (F-127) loaded with colistin (C) were formulated. The formulations were divided into two groups: group 1 (SA-PVA-C) and group 2 (SA-PVA-F127-C). <b>Results:</b> The membranes were characterized using multiple techniques, which confirmed component compatibility, physical cross-linking, an amorphous structure, and suitable surface morphology with acceptable porosity. Mechanical testing showed that both groups were suitable for wound-dressing applications. Differences in drug release across media (water, normal saline, and phosphate) were non-significant (<i>p</i> value > 0.05). Drug-loaded membranes (<i>n</i> = 3) from both groups showed antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (ZOI = 20.33 ± 2.51 mm, 21.66 ± 2.08 mm). <b>Conclusions</b>: Overall, the developed hydrogel membranes (both group 1 and group 2) demonstrated promising in vitro potential as colistin delivery systems for wound infection management.