FORMULATION, DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION AND EVALUATION OF A MARINE PEPTIDE-LOADED LIPOSOMAL HYDROGEL FOR ENHANCED BURN WOUND THERAPY

Kusum Shekh*, Dr. Sulekha Mandal, Dr. Mukesh Bansal, Dr. Dilip Agrawal

Background: Marine peptides are described in the supplied work as bioactive molecules with antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Their formulation use can be limited by instability and degradation. The present study developed a liposomal hydrogel intended to provide protected and sustained topical delivery for burn-wound therapy. Methods: Marine peptide was characterized by preformulation studies and then formulated into liposomes using the Thin Film Hydration Method. Response Surface Methodology with Box–Behnken Design was used to optimize soy phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol levels. The optimized liposomes were incorporated into Carbopol® 940 hydrogel, which was optimized using a second design. Physicochemical evaluation, in vitro release, kinetic modelling, RP-HPLC validation and three-month stability testing were performed. Results: TF6 liposomes showed 148.6 ± 3.2 nm particle size, PDI 0.214 ± 0.01, zeta potential −31.8 ± 1.4 mV, entrapment efficiency 91.84 ± 1.08%, drug loading 8.62 ± 0.24% and drug content 99.12 ± 0.84%. Optimized hydrogel F6 showed pH 6.48 ± 0.03, viscosity 20,560 ± 245 cP, spreadability 26.82 ± 0.54 g•cm/s, extrudability 485 ± 12 g, gel strength 52.4 ± 1.6 s and drug content 99.24 ± 0.78%. Drug release reached 94.85 ± 1.24% at 24 h. Higuchi kinetics gave the highest reported fit (R² = 0.992), while the Korsmeyer–Peppas exponent was n = 0.68. Conclusion: The supplied experimental data support successful development of a nanosized marine peptide liposomal hydrogel with high encapsulation, suitable topical physicochemical properties, sustained release and satisfactory three-month stability.