Chitosan/Pcl Sponge Co-Loaded with Ciprofloxacin and Ginger: Controlled Drug Release and Enhanced Healing of Infected Wounds in a Rat Model

Bacterial infections are a major challenge in wound management, emphasizing the need for advanced antibacterial dressings. In this study, we developed a ciprofloxacin (CIP) - and ginger extract-loaded chitosan lactate (Chit)/polycaprolactone (PCL) composite sponge designed for the treatment of Escherichia coli-infected wounds. The synergistic effects of CIP and ginger extract provided potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-healing properties, while the Chit/PCL matrix acted as a bioactive scaffold. Chit/PCL sponges were fabricated in different ratios (Chit60/PCL40, Chit50/PCL50, and Chit40/PCL60) and characterized through ATR-FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, contact angle measurements, and mechanical strength analysis. The Chit60/PCL40 formulation showed a highly porous structure (average pore size: 42.00±0.75 μm) with enhanced compressive strength (14% higher than pure chitosan sponges) and moderate hydrophilicity, which supported superior cell viability. The Chit60/PCL40/CIP/Ginger composite exhibited controlled CIP and ginger releases and demonstrated effective antibacterial activity. In vitro studies on fibroblast cultures confirmed non-cytotoxicity, while in vivo studies using an E. coli-infected rat model showed significantly accelerated wound healing with the incorporation of ginger. The multifunctional Chit60/PCL40/CIP/Ginger sponge effectively acted as both a bacterial barrier and a tissue regeneration promoter, offering a promising platform for advanced wound healing applications.