Neomycin and Clotrimazole Loaded Chitosan-Based Electrospun Wound Dressing: Development, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Properties

This study reports a novel approach to chronic wound therapy by fabricating a dual antimicrobial electrospun wound dressing that simultaneously delivers neomycin (antibacterial) and clotrimazole (antifungal) in a poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and biocompatible chitosan (CS) PVA/CS matrix. Compared to single-drug products in use today, this new dressing mitigates polymicrobial infections characteristic of chronic wounds through controlled dual-drug release kinetics, with initial rapid neomycin (NM) release to instantaneously control bacteria and slow diffusion of clotrimazole (CZ) to provide extended antifungal coverage. Because they take longer to heal, chronic wounds with bacterial and fungal infections pose serious healthcare difficulties. The optimal polymer combination of 3% (w/v) PVA and 3% (w/v) chitosan in a ratio of 4:1 (PVA/CS) was determined, with drug concentrations being 0.5% (w/v) neomycin and 1% (w/v) clotrimazole, and nanofibers with average diameters of 60 ± 18 nm (control) and 87 ± 26 nm (drug-loaded films) were achieved. The dressings reported good mechanical properties (7.49 MPa tensile strength) and enhanced fluid absorption capacities (299% water absorption), suitable for application in wound healing. Kinetic patterns in drug release investigations revealed therapeutic activity optimized uniquely. Neomycin displayed rapid initial release (40% within the first hour) following non-Fickian Weibull kinetics (<i>R</i> ² = 0.88), while clotrimazole showed sustained Higuchi-type diffusion (<i>R</i> ² = 0.97). The wound dressing exhibited greater antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (zones of inhibition: 22.5 ± 0.7 mm and 18.5 ± 0.7 mm, respectively) and excellent antifungal activity against <i>Aspergillus niger</i> and <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i> (zones of inhibition: 35.8 ± 7.4 mm and 27.0 ± 1.4 mm, respectively). The FTIR analysis confirmed successful drug incorporation within the polymer matrix. This innovative multifunctional electrospun wound dressing is effectively fabricated with tailored dual antimicrobial release profiles, achieving an integrated approach to chronic wound treatment. Subsequent studies should involve <i>in vivo</i> investigations and clinical trials for evidence of safety and efficacy in the future.