A sustained‐release gel film based on chitosan for treating cutaneous candidiasis

Abstract Hydrogels have been widely used in wound dressings owing to their biocompatibility and bacteriostatic properties. In this study, a chitosan‐citric acid gel film was prepared using chitosan as the raw material and citric acid as the acid solvent and cross‐linking agent. In addition, to increase the antibacterial effect of the gel film, ketoconazole/β‐cyclodextrin inclusion complex was prepared by inclusion technology and added to the gel film to prepare a chitosan‐citric acid sustained‐release gel film loaded with ketoconazole/β‐cyclodextrin inclusion complex for treating cutaneous candidiasis. The physical and chemical properties of the chitosan‐citric acid gel films were investigated using infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, water vapor transmittance test, thermal analysis, and swelling tests. Drug release, antibacterial, and toxicity tests of the chitosan‐citric acid gel film loading with ketoconazole/β‐cyclodextrin inclusion complex were carried out in vitro. The composite film showed good sustained drug release behavior, antibacterial effects, and biocompatibility in vitro. These results support that the chitosan‐citric acid hydrogel has great potential as a gel wound dressing for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis.