Development of Usnic Acid Embedded Eudragit Microspheres for Alleviation of Nosocomial Infections

Abstract

Usnic Acid has been progressively reported in the literature as one of the chiefly significant lichen metabolites having ample diversity of applications such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal agents, etc. We shed a light on nosocomial infections and formulated topical microspheres loaded with Usnic acid for improved antimicrobial activity. Usnic acid embedded Eudragit microspheres were designed applying solvent evaporation method, investigated for topog. and drug-polymer compatibility studies. Dialysis bag method was utilized for studying drug release kinetics. In vitro antibacterial assay was carried out against the virulent bacterial strain of Staphylococcus aureus using the disk diffusion method. Topog. studies revealed the formation of regular, micro-sized, smooth surface microspheres. Well defined and specific structural peaks were obtained from FTIR and TGA studies, revealing drugpolymer compatibility. The dissolution profile suggested Korsmeyer Peppas kinetic and Fickian kind of diffusion from microspheres. The pre-eminent activity of formulated microspheres was visualized from the disk diffusion study against Staphylococcus aureus. The strong biol. activity of Usnic acid-loaded Eudragit RS and Eudragit RL microspheres provides a promising application for corresponding material as a bactericidal agent for the treatment of dermal and nosocomial infections caused by S. aureus.