Curcumin and Diclofenac Therapeutic Efficacy Enhancement Applying Transdermal Hydrogel Polymer Films, Based on Carrageenan, Alginate and Poloxamer

Films based on carrageenan, alginate and poloxamer 407 have been formulated with the main aim to apply prepared formulations in wound healing process. The formulated films were loaded with diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug, as well as diclofenac and curcumin, as multipurpose drug, in order to enhance encapsulation and achieve controlled release of these low-bioavailability compounds. The obtained data demonstrated improved drug bioavailability (encapsulation efficiency higher than 90%), with high, cumulative in vitro release percentages (90.10% for diclofenac, 89.85% for curcumin and 95.61% for diclofenac in mixture-incorporated films). The results obtained using theoretical models suggested that curcumin establishes stronger, primarily dispersion interactions with carrier, in comparison with diclofenac. Curcumin and diclofenac-loaded films showed great antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, inhibition zone 16.67 and 13.67 mm, respectively), and in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that curcumin- and diclofenac-incorporated polymer films have great potential, as a new transdermal dressing, to heal wounds, because diclofenac can target the inflammatory phase and reduce pain, whereas curcumin can enhance and promote the wound healing process.