DOE-based Development of Liposome Encapsulated Delivery of Azithromycin for Wound Healing

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic biological process that can be compromised by microbial infection, excessive inflammation, and delayed tissue regeneration. Azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, possesses broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may be beneficial in wound management. However, conventional delivery of azithromycin may be limited by inadequate localization at the wound site, variable drug availability, and the need for repeated administration. Liposomal drug delivery offers a promising approach for improving the localized and sustained delivery of azithromycin while potentially enhancing its therapeutic effectiveness and reducing systemic exposure. The present study focuses on the development and optimization of azithromycin-loaded liposomes using a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach. Critical formulation variables, such as lipid-to-drug ratio, phospholipid concentration, cholesterol concentration, and process conditions, can be systematically investigated to determine their effects on critical quality attributes, including vesicle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release. A suitable experimental design can be employed to identify significant formulation variables and their interactions and to establish an optimized formulation with desirable physicochemical and drug-release characteristics. The optimized liposomal formulation may subsequently be evaluated for in vitro drug release, stability, antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility, and wound-healing potential. This systematic DOE-based approach is expected to facilitate rational formulation development and provide a potential liposomal platform for localized azithromycin delivery in wound management.